PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. GARUT - The Strive Indonesia program, initiated by Mercy Corps Indonesia, supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and in collaboration with the West Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) and the Garut Regency Government (Pemkab), was officially launched in Garut Regency.

This program is targeted to empower 25 thousand Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Garut Regency by 2026, with 40% of them being women entrepreneurs.

The launch of the Strive Indonesia Program was carried out in an event entitled Launching Collaboration in West Java and Kick Off for MSME Training in Garut Regency, which was held at the BJB Garut Bank Hall, Jalan Ahmad Yani, Garut District, Garut City, Tuesday (12/12/2023).

This activity was attended by the Head of the West Java Province Department of Cooperatives and Small Businesses (Diskuk), Rochmat Taufik Garsadi, the Executive Director of Mercy Corps Indonesia, Ade Soekadis, the Head of the Garut Regency Cooperatives and Small and Micro Enterprises Service (Diskop UKM), Ridzky Ridznurdhin, as well as representatives from Bank BJB Garut, Rofi, with representative participants from villages in Garut Regency.

Kadiskop UKM Garut, Ridzky Ridznurdhin, said that the Strive Indonesia Program has 3 big strategies, namely encouraging MSMEs to go digital, having access to capital or getting capital, and encouraging MSMEs to have a healthy business supporting ecosystem or supporting ecosystem.

By 2026, added Ridzky, in Garut Regency it is targeted that there will be around 25 thousand MSMEs that can be empowered through this program. These MSMEs will later be given training programs, empowerment, strengthening Human Resources (HR), and synergizing facilitation from banking.

"(The follow-up from the Garut Regency Government) firstly, we really responded, yes, we really support this program, that's why we will collaborate with stakeholders (such as) BJB, we and DPMD, that's it, to try to comb through every village that has potential ( MSMEs that can be empowered)," said Ridzky.

He hopes that the implementation of the Strive Indonesia Program will not just be ceremonial, but can continue to run effectively and in real terms, so that according to him it is necessary to prepare a framework and work team to make this program a success.

"I also hope that this program is truly sustainable, the end result is that SMEs can increase their turnover, and at the same time their turnover can also be sustainable, not once or twice but just like that," he hoped.

Meanwhile, the Head of the West Java Province Diskuk, Rochmat Taufik Garsadi, was grateful that West Java could be one of the locations for implementing the Strive Indonesia Program. West Java Province itself is targeted to be able to empower 50 thousand MSMEs, and around 50% of them come from Garut Regency.

"Hopefully the 25 thousand in Garut, built in collaboration with various parties including Bank Jabar, can significantly increase the business of MSMEs here," he said.

Taufik hopes that with this program, MSMEs in West Java can advance in class, so they can increase their workforce, which will automatically reduce unemployment and also improve overall welfare.

In the same place, the Executive Director of Mercy Corps Indonesia, Ade Soekadis, said that the implementation of the Strive Indonesia Program was carried out in 4 provinces starting from West Java, East Java, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara, with a target of 300 thousand MSMEs to be reached. through this program until 2026.

The target of this program, said Ade, is MSMEs that have 1 to 19 workers, who are engaged in food and beverage, non-furniture crafts, fashion, and businesses in the tourism value chain.

"So we want this program to help MSMEs to advance in class, and in the end of course have a positive impact on the economy in Indonesia, especially in West Java and Garut," he said.

As for the reason for choosing West Java as a pilot project, added Ade, because according to him West Java has a support system and environment for developing SMEs that is quite capable, not to mention that it has also been working with the West Java Diskuk since 2 years ago and an environment for developing SMEs that is quite capable. , moreover, his party has also been collaborating with the West Java Diskuk since 2 years ago.

He also explained the interventions that will be implemented in the Strive Indonesia Program, namely training, mentoring, facilitating MSMEs to adopt digital technology so they are able to manage their business well, and facilitating access to formal financial institutions.

"And finally, we are also working with the central government, how we can develop a regulatory blueprint at the national level that is conducive, so that MSMEs can contribute to achieving a golden Indonesia in 2045," he explained.

The output that is intended to be produced from this program, said Ade, is increasing the business of MSMEs such as adding workers, then increasing turnover, and increasing profits, so that the development of MSMEs can have a positive impact on the economy in Garut Regency in particular, and West Java in general. . What this program wants to produce, said Ade, is increasing the business of MSMEs, such as adding workers, then increasing turnover, and increasing profits, so that the development of MSMEs can have a positive impact on the economy in Garut Regency in particular, and West Java in general.

"So we hope that MSMEs can try in a conducive situation, conditions and regulations, because there are still many challenges in terms of regulations, in terms of conditions, perhaps we need to improve, so that they can develop more, and can contribute to the Indonesian economy." ," he stressed.