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Going global? Nah, we prefer rural: Tokopedia
Part of Tokopedia’s “digital village” initiative agreed upon in the MoU is promotional and marketing efforts for village products, strengthening village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) and empowering villagers through wider access to the Tokopedia Center.
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West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (right) and Tokopedia CEO William Tanuwijaya chat after the signing ceremony of an MoU on West Java digital village development, digital public service expansion and fruit and vegetable farmer empowerment at the Pakuan building on Tuesday. (Kompas.com/Dendi Ramdhani)
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ndonesian e-commerce unicorn Tokopedia is aiming to expand its business to rural areas rather than going global, as the great potential of villages in the country is seen as crucial in supporting Indonesia’s burgeoning digital economy.
"In the future, we want to [enter] villages, here in Sukanegara village for example,” said Tokopedia CEO William Tanuwidjaja after signing a partnership MoU with the West Java provincial administration on digital villages development. “It will be more important than an expansion to, for instance, Singapore.”
Part of Tokopedia’s “digital village” initiative agreed upon in the MoU is promotional and marketing efforts for village products, strengthening village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) and empowering villagers through wider access to the Tokopedia Center.
“Every village has a featured product. How can these village entrepreneurs become national entrepreneurs without urbanization? This Tokopedia Center will serve as an educational room starting with e-mailing, creating an online shop, taking pictures, etc,” William said.
Tokopedia Center, which has a presence in 20 regions across Indonesia, is expected to connect micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in different spots around the country with the national market, MSMEs contribute 60 percent to the national economy.
“If we think about it, the potential is huge, because Tokopedia’s mission is to cut the urbanization chain. People say the capital city is crueler than a stepmother, but once they go to the capital city, they don’t go back to their home villages. If this continues to happen Indonesia will face severe problems,” William added.
Apart from “digital village” development, Tokopedia’s partnership with the West Java administration also encompasses the Jabar Digital Province for e-public services such as licensing processes and extensions of driving licenses, as well as the empowerment of fruit and vegetable farmers in West Java in partnership with Sayurbox, a local startup that connects organic fruit and vegetable farmers with buyers.
