The NSLIC brings together Indonesian coffee SMEs with buyers from Canada, Germany, and the Philippines in online breakout rooms.
“Canada applauds the success of local coffee producers to go international today," Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Canada to Indonesia Richard Le Bars noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Le Bars remarked that through intensive trainings, coaching and facilitation is provided by the Canada-funded NSLIC project to micro and small businesses from East Java, Yogyakarta, and Bali.
"We see the quality and quantity of their products improved to meet the international standard and demand," Le Bars pointed out.
NSLIC/NSELRED is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in collaboration with the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.
This cost-effective virtual approach is focused on SMEs that may not have sufficient means to travel overseas themselves to sell their commodities and products globally, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, he explained.
Related news: BRI promotes East Java MSMEs in Canada to bring them trade globally
"We would also like to thank our private sector partners, BNI and Sarinah, for their strong collaboration in bringing their expertise in export facilitation and linkage to international markets to benefit these local producers. We are optimistic that the partnerships initiated today would be long-lasting and beneficial to local people and businesses involved," Le Bars remarked.
The Ijen 2022 International Business Matching involved 2,196 coffee farmers from 11 different business groups in East Java (Banyuwangi, Bondowoso, and Situbondo), Bali, and Yogyakarta, with the land area totaling over nine thousand hectares.
The types of coffee promoted, include Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica, with different processing styles in accordance with the characteristics of each business group.
The business matching event was held on one day at three different Western Indonesia times (WIB) and for three different countries: for the Philippines in the morning, Germany in the afternoon, and for Canada in the evening Jakarta time.
Three talk shows were broadcast simultaneously that discussed the export performance of Indonesian SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the challenges and opportunities of SME exports to Canada, Germany, and the Philippines.
The 2022 International Business Matching was supported by the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment; Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; PT. Sarinah (Persero) and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).
NSLIC is pleased to help promote international business linkages for small and micro Indonesian coffee producers to help reinforce stable employment and increase the income of poor women and men, the NSLIC/NSELRED Project Director Peter Walton stated.
"We are confident that the international exposure, which the Ijen event provides, will result in many new and rewarding long-term business partnerships to the benefit of small local producers and their families,” Walton affirmed.
In August 2021, the NSLIC/NSELRED project successfully held two business meetings, one in Belitung and one in Bali. The first was the Business Meeting for Belitung’s SMEs that focused on pepper sales.
It involved around 800 pepper farmers, with a total land area of 1,100 hectares, and resulted in seven cooperation agreements between the pepper farmer groups and investors.
The second was the Bali Business Meeting in October 2021 that involved some 500 business actors/SMEs, most of them being farmers, fishers, and craftspeople from Buleleng, Klungkung, and Tabanan.
The Bali Business Meeting resulted in 24 cooperation agreements between SMEs, local governments and the Trading Investors, Trading Support Investors, and Development Investors.
Related news: Ministry holds business-matching event to boost exports to Canada
Translator: Citro A, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
