Jamwaktu.com – Dozens of small and medium-sized businesses in Pontianak City received a boost through the Business Matching event held at the Novotel Pontianak Convention Center. This event brought together 50 local entrepreneurs (sellers) with 150 potential buyers, including government agencies, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD), banks, and private companies, as a strategic step to strengthen local marketing and business networks.
A Key Event for Collaboration and Expansion
The Business Matching event was divided into two sessions: a morning session and an afternoon session, to accommodate all participating buyers.
According to the Deputy Mayor of Pontianak, Bahasan, this event not only brought sellers and buyers together but also served as a strategic platform to open opportunities for collaboration, investment, and strengthening the business capacity of MSMEs.
“We want to ensure that Pontianak’s businesses advance, have broader market access, and obtain real collaboration opportunities,” he said at the opening of the first session.
With Pontianak’s position as a city of trade, services, and logistics, this event is considered highly potential to boost the MSME sector, creative industries, culinary arts, and local trade to grow faster.
Real Opportunities for MSMEs
For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Business Matching opens new doors for their products, whether culinary, crafts, creative services, or other local products, to be introduced to buyers from various sectors.
Some of the key benefits of this event include:
Wider Market Access: Local sellers are no longer limited to traditional or local markets; they have the opportunity to sell to government agencies, corporations, or large distributors.
Cooperation & Investment Opportunities: Potential buyers in attendance can become long-term partners, not just one-time buyers, but collaboration partners, distributors, or even investors.
Networking: Face-to-face meetings allow MSMEs to expand their networks, share insights, and explore collaboration opportunities.
Government Support for MSMEs: This event demonstrates the city government’s commitment to advancing the local economy by involving MSMEs in the broader supply chain.
Government Steps for a Conducive Business Climate
The holding of Business Matching is not a single action. The Pontianak City Government also emphasized its broader commitment to creating a healthy and competitive business ecosystem.
Several supporting policies include accelerating and streamlining the business licensing process through an OSS (Online Single Submission)-based system, improving city infrastructure, and providing training and business mentoring for MSMEs.
This way, MSMEs not only gain transaction and market opportunities but also the incentive to operate their businesses professionally, legally, and prepare for long-term expansion.
Long-Term Potential for the Local Economy
Events like Business Matching have significant long-term potential. If implemented consistently, this initiative can help many MSMEs upgrade : from small, local businesses to more established and highly competitive enterprises.
Furthermore, the greater the collaboration between MSMEs and large corporations, or between local businesses, the more dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable the business ecosystem in Pontianak can become.
On a broader scale, the success of local MSMEs can impact regional economic growth, create jobs, and boost purchasing power. In this way, MSMEs are not only micro-economic actors but can also become part of the driving force of the regional economy.
Hopes and Follow-up
The organizers hope that this Business Matching initiative won’t stop at just one event. What’s needed is continuity, in the form of follow-up programs: mentoring, digital literacy training, ease of legal requirements, access to capital, and market opportunities within and outside the region.
For example, several initiatives in Pontianak are already underway, including licensing assistance through the OSS (Online Online Shopping System) and training and coaching programs for MSMEs.
If all support continues to be provided from the government, financial/banking institutions, buyers, and the community, it’s possible that Pontianak’s local products will become more widely known, even penetrating regional or national markets.
