"I want to become an investor (in the five start-ups). Just register me through the minister (of communications and information technology)," the president noted in his address as the keynote speaker at the "Entrepreneurs Wanted" meeting at the Ganesha Cultural Center of the Bandung-based Institute of Technology here on Monday.
On the occasion, Jokowi invited on stage five young businesspersons operating start-ups in various fields. The president urged them to offer a brief explanation about their businesses.
The president thereafter expressed willingness to invest in the five start-ups.
However, he advised that the youth should not pay attention to the amount of investment made by the president but the brand value that holds high potential when the president endorses every product manufactured by these young entrepreneurs.
"If I invested in Akbar, for instance, I definitely endorse the product," he emphasized.
The five young businesspersons, who pioneered the start-ups, are Aldi Aldinar, Muhammad Ardian, Fatimah Afranolema Atma, Muhammad Akbar Slamet, and Nisrina Khotimah.
Aldinar had, since the past year, started an online Muslim clothing business and currently has a turnover of some Rp1 million, while Ardian, who is still a student of the SMA N 3 high school in Bandung, has since the end of this year`s fasting month started a business of selling turbans online.
"I started my online business brand Sorbrand at the end of the fasting month. The first day I posted on Instagram, a buyer immediately contacted me, and orders have continued to trickle in until now. Last month, the value of the orders had reached up to Rp2.5 million. Roughly, I sell 70 turbans a month," he noted.
Slamet, who had enrolled in the ITB developers` business by empowering two slipper manufacturers in Cibaduyut, has a monthly turnover of Rp3 million.
Furthermore, high school student Atma has started an online business of selling sling bags and helps to market online her parents` corpse paraphernalia package.
The last start-up pioneer called by the president was Nisrina Khotimah, who is a student of SMA 1 Bandung and sells cakes in stalls in front of his house.
The president held a dialog with the fifth start-up pioneer and humorously noted that the youth should pay if he endorsed their products.
"Yes, if I can endorse it, you pay me. There is no free lunch; I am a businessman," he stated to which the audience roared with laughter.
The president also praised the pioneering business of Afah, who is involved in the sale of mortuary equipment.
"Well, these are products having a market. I had once exported coffins to Europe. It is nice, but it is long gone," he remarked.
Speaking in connection with the president`s plan to invest in the five start-ups, Communications and Information Technology Minister Rudiantara said he will follow up on the president`s directives.
(A014/INE/o001)
EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/O001)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
