Depok, June 27th 2023. In order to gain experience regarding the ability of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic, the community service team (pengmas) at the Universitas Indonesia’s Strategic and Global Studies School (SKSG UI) held a focus group discussion (FGD) and sharing knowledge with MSMEs in the Betawi Cultural Village, Setu Babakan, South Jakarta. This was done to measure the level of resilience of MSMEs in dealing with business risks due to external factors which are increasingly difficult to predict. The results of the FGD would be used to develop policy briefs for the cultural agency and related MSMEs.
The SKSG UI community service team chaired by Dr. Palupi Lindiasari Samputra was followed by four types of Betawi culinary business, including the Bir Pletok, Kembang Goyang, Selendang Mayang, and Ondel-ondel businesses. These products are not just commodity products that are traded, but have important meanings filled with Betawinese values and culture. According to Dr. Agnes Sri Poerbasari, M.Si., who is a member of the community service team, in the midst of a highly competitive business climate, MSME needs to innovate by utilizing technology.
To encourage business while preserving Betawi culture, Dr. Syaiful Amri as the facilitator and expert on Betawi culture in this FGD explained that the DKI Jakarta government had issued PP No. 11 of 2017 concerning Betawi cultural icons. Two of them, ondel-ondel and bir pletok, are included in the eight Betawi cultural icons. This shows the government’s commitment in preserving Betawi culture as well as efforts to promote the welfare of the Betawi people.
In the activity that was carried out on Wednesday (21/6), business actors said that the pandemic had a direct and significant impact on business income especially for culinary business, which was affected the most because it relies more on face-to-face contact with customers. The presence of social media and e-commerce also has less impact on business income. Therefore, they urgently needed assistance from the community and government in guaranteeing their daily lives in the short term during the pandemic.
Dr. Palupi said, if the government is committed to implementing the Pancasila economic principles, then the principle of mutual cooperation can be applied to business actors, which will not only be carried out in crisis conditions, but also in normal conditions. In addition, MSMEs also need to be educated that family-based businesses can strengthen their business resilience, both in the face of adverse conditions and for long-term business continuity. The main key to the Pancasila economy lies in mutual cooperation between business actors, both small business actors and large businesses.
Director of SKSG UI, Athor Subroto, S.E., M.M., M.Sc., Ph.D., said, “This activity encourages the involvement of lecturers to introduce the science of business resilience as a new paradigm for micro and small business policies based on preserving local culture which is beneficial for related agencies.”
