PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Trade and Industry Agency (Disdagin) continues to encourage MSMEs and local industries to grow, become more competitive, and advance in class. These efforts are carried out through product quality development, strengthening legality and certification, increasing production capacity, branding, and expanding marketing access and partnerships.

This was discussed in the Sonata Talkshow entitled "Get to Know the Flagship Programs of the Bandung City Trade and Industry Office, Encouraging MSMEs and Local Industries to Advance" on Tuesday (September 1, 2026).

This activity is a joint broadcast of Radio Sonata and Radio PRFM, presenting the Head of the Bandung City Trade and Industry Service (Disdagin), Ronny Ahmad Nurudin and the Head of the Distribution and Trade Division of Metrological Supervision of the Bandung City Disdagin, Meiwan Kartiwa.

In the talk show, Ronny Ahmad Nurudin explained the role of Disdagin in assisting the leadership of the Mayor of Bandung, especially in the fields of trade and industry.

"We will support the Mayor's leadership in the trade and industry sectors. In the trade sector, we want to ensure that trade activities in Bandung City run smoothly. We also want the community, businesses, and consumers to thrive. We also want Bandung's MSMEs to move up a notch," said Ronny.

Ronny said that as a creative city, Bandung has great potential that needs to be continuously strengthened by improving product quality and marketing access.

"Starting from improving product quality, packaging, legality, technology, and production capacity, to marketing access and partnerships. This is certainly to support Bandung's rise to the top and become highly competitive," he said.

According to Ronny, local product development does not stop at the production process, but also needs to be supported by creativity in building branding and marketing.

"Bandung is a creative city, so how can we make our products creative, of course creative in terms of branding and marketing," said Ronny.

He explained that the Department of Trade and Industry provides guidance to business actors from the initial stages, including management, legality, certification, and improving product quality.

"From the initial development of this creative product, we provide guidance to business owners in Bandung City, starting with management, especially legal aspects, and certification, such as halal certification, quality assurance, and so on," he explained.

"From a product perspective, it can fulfill its branding, have sales value, and have production capacity," Ronny continued.

After product development, the Department of Trade and Industry also encourages business actors to strengthen branding and expand marketing through various promotional activities and exhibitions.

"Then we invite them to promote their branding, starting from marketing. We also help with marketing, and we even participate in exhibitions for their branding," he said.

A number of programs that have been implemented include the 2026 Bandung Creative Market, the Industrial Center Festival, All About Tofu & Bandung City Snacks, Bandung Week Market, the Main Cheap Bazaar, and the Bandung Great Festival.

For this year's Bandung Great Festival, the event was held in a different atmosphere from previous years, namely at Laswi Heritage.

Meanwhile, Meiwan Kartiwa discussed the implementation of the Main Cheap Bazaar (Bazmut), which is one of the Department of Trade and Industry's programs in an effort to control inflation while helping people obtain basic necessities at more affordable prices.

"In previous years, the bazaar was only held twice a year at most. From last year until this year, we've had a Cheap Bazaar every three months," said Meiwan.

"This Cheap Bazaar is one of our tasks or programs from the Department of Trade and Industry. It's about controlling inflation and helping people obtain various basic necessities at more affordable prices, bringing them closer to them," he explained.

The 2026 Quarter III Main Cheap Bazaar will take place from August 31 to September 11, 2026. The event will be held directly in the community area, with a one-day implementation in three locations and three sub-districts.

"So, we'll be visiting three locations in three sub-districts in one day. This will bring us closer to the residents," said Meiwan.

The public can monitor the location and schedule of the Bazmut implementation through the official social media of the Bandung City Trade and Industry Office @bdg.perdaganganindustri.

Meiwan also explained that a number of commodities are available at Bazmut, including SPHP rice, cooking oil, beef, frozen chicken, shallots, and garlic.

"SPHP rice is also quite affordable. According to the HET (Highest Retail Price) of Rp62,545 per five kilograms, Bulog sells it at Bazmut for Rp58,000," he said.

"Then also MinyaKita per liter is IDR 15,500," continued Meiwan.

For beef, the price offered through Bazmut is around Rp 72,000 per half kilogram. Meanwhile, frozen chicken is sold for around Rp 38,000 for a 0.8 to 0.9 kilogram weight.

"We sell beef at Bazmut for Rp 72,000 per half kilo. And at Bazaar Murah, even though the chicken is frozen, it's sold for Rp 38,000," he explained.

Meiwan added that a number of other commodities, such as shallots and garlic, are also being sold at more affordable prices.

"We even sell shallots and garlic for Rp 15,000 per half kilo. In the market, it's quite good, already a little over Rp 30,000," he said.

Amid public concern about food prices and availability, Meiwan appealed to Bandung residents to remain calm and not to buy food excessively.

"To the residents of Bandung, remain calm. Don't panic buy food supplies," he advised.

These various programs are part of the Department of Trade and Industry's efforts to strengthen the Bandung City economy, both through developing MSMEs and local industries and maintaining the affordability of basic community needs.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service/rka)