BNI brought 50 partner MSME products to the Festival Pasar Senggol in Istanbul, Turkey. The event was an Indonesian economic and cultural festival where the Indonesian diaspora in Turkey could demonstrate their businesses’ ability to navigate the pandemic.

Citing data from the Indonesian Trade Ministry, the total value of Indonesia-Turkey trade in 2021 was US$2.01 billion with Indonesia recording a surplus of $1.2 billion as a net exporter. Turkey’s economy in 2021, meanwhile, maintained growth of 11 percent.

Helmi Suana is the founder of Faber Instrument Indonesia, an MSME that manufactures vintage wooden radios. As one of BNI’s borrowers who participated in the Festival Pasar Senggol, Helmi agreed that BNI was committed to helping MSMEs achieve their business capabilities and performance quality.

He had been a borrower at the bank for one year when BNI invited him to showcase his company’s products at festivals both at home and abroad. “We are grateful that although we’ve just joined BNI, we are still invited to participate in many market development programs by joining festivals including this one in Turkey,” Helmi said.

Helmi added that BNI also played a proactive role in supporting the wood design industry in Indonesia. To Helmi, it was an important step to bring quality wooden products to foreign markets.

Faber Instrument Indonesia is now planning to make a workshop to accommodate other types of wooden products. Helmi knew it would catch the attention of local and international tourists who would get to know about the high-quality MSME products. “If this proves successful, we can stimulate the local tourist industry while opening more production centers in other cities due to increasing demand,” he said.

Meanwhile, I Gusti Ngurah Made Wirathanaya is another BNI KUR borrower who founded Bali Wirama, an MSME selling handmade decor and accessories. He appreciated BNI’s efforts in channeling their products to festivals that would match MSME partner products. “Aside from financing, BNI has been actively looking for festivals, including this one, that are suitable for our products. It’s very helpful.” he said.

Wirama said that the proactive steps taken by BNI will yield more innovations and increase the MSMEs’ capacity. “Hopefully, the growth of our business will continue in a progressive direction and lead to more production centers. Thank you BNI,” said Wira

BNI as MSE Aggregator in Turkey

Indonesian Consul General in Istanbul Imam As'ari said BNI played an important role as an aggregator for Indonesian MSMEs to enter the Turkish market. According to Imam, the trade balance had reached more than $2 billion and would continue to grow. However, it required banking industry players with strength in international business.

“BNI has a very important role as an aggregator. BNI provides financial products while at the same time being proactive in holding various business meetings to promote MSMEs in the global market," he said.

BNI has also been a supporter of a number of diaspora festivals in Indonesia, helping them create a stronger business network in Turkey. "The total population of the Indonesian diaspora in Turkey is still very small, around 6,000. But it should be noted that the business network of this diaspora is very strong and BNI can take advantage of it," he said. (*)

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