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BNI encourages MSME exports with Regional Trade Talk series
There is an ongoing positive trend in world economic growth as the global COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
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BNI treasury and international director Henry Panjaitan stands with panelists at the Regional Trade Talk Series event in Medan on Tuesday. The BNI webinar is expected to promote export-oriented businesses by increasing their understanding and help them actualize themselves in the global market.
T
here is an ongoing positive trend in world economic growth as the global COVID-19 pandemic subsides. This is an encouragement for PT. Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI) to actively strengthen its global business capabilities through a sustainable expansion of partnerships with exporters and importers.
To that end, BNI held a webinar to develop the optimism of domestic businesses through the Regional Trade Talk series in the Medan region with the theme “Tips & Tricks in Expanding the Global Market Post Pandemic"
The event was officially opened by North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi, who was represented by expert staff for economics, finance, development, assets and natural resources Agus Tripiyono alongside the director of treasury and international BNI Henry Panjaitan on May 24 at the ballroom of the JW Marriott Hotel, Medan.
The line-up of speakers included head of the North Sumatra Customs and Excise Office Parjiya, head of the North Sumatra Industry and Trade Office Aspan Sofian, and ICC Indonesia senior advisor Haryadi Sarpini, who offered various tips for businesses that are looking to recover and expand their markets to foreign countries after the pandemic.
“BNI initiated this webinar so that businesses can become more export-oriented and increase their understanding and actualize themselves in marketing their products in the global marketplace. The percentage of export and import transactions through BNI in the first quarter recorded a vast improvement with a 34.1 and 22.89 percent increase, respectively,” said Henry.
The Regional Trade Talk series is a series of hybrid and online webinars with speakers from local associations and agencies as well as export and customs. Meanwhile, its counterpart for the diaspora is aptly named the Diaspora Trade Talk series where experts virtually discuss issues related to trade, commodities in demand (imports), financing for diaspora and importers and business-matching sessions. The series invites speakers from the diaspora community, exporters, importers, trade associations and the Indonesian embassy in each country.
“The BNI Regional Trade Talk is a series of pre-events ahead of the 2022 BNI Global Trade Forum [GTF], which will be held in the middle of this year. In addition to the regional event, which we held last March in Semarang, there will be an international webinar called the Diaspora Trade Talk series. And a few months ago it was implemented in Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan,” added Henry.
The Regional Trade Talk and Diaspora Trade Talk series will be held every month domestically and abroad. After Medan, the Regional Trade Talk series will be held in Bandung, Batam and Surabaya. Meanwhile, the international Diaspora Trade Talk series will be held in Amsterdam and Sydney.
Henry mentioned the recent inauguration of the BNI branch office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on May 17. He stated that it was part of BNI’s strategy to optimize its global banking performance by expanding its network across Amsterdam, a potential market in the post-Brexit European region.
The volume of trade between the Netherlands and Indonesia is high, as it includes the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Indonesia, as well as the potential for Indonesia-related businesses and Indonesian group companies.
BNI hopes to become the main partner for parties in the export-import ecosystem as well as regulators. It is committed to delivering financial and financing solutions, including being a liaison in business matchmaking between Indonesian exporters, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the Indonesian diaspora, as well as potential businesses overseas.
Abroad, BNI provides services for the diaspora community. Currently, the Indonesian diaspora can open a new Diaspora Saving account without the hassle of visiting a branch by using the BNI Mobile Banking platform.
BNI’s overseas branches also provide trade finance transaction services, bank guarantees and other services. BNI also provides a financing scheme through Diaspora Lending for members of the diaspora who want to develop their businesses.
“This expansion effort cannot be separated from collaboration with overseas counterparts based on digital, fintech, e-commerce, transaction platforms such as blockchain and others. This collaboration is expected to be able to reach more of the diaspora easily, efficiently and cost-effectively,” Henry concluded.
