BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – In mid-2021, Centre of Innovation and Business Incubator (Pusat Inovasi dan Inkubator Bisnis, PIIB) Universitas Pasundan was trusted by the Ministry of Social Affairs to assist in the implementation of Social Entrepreneurship Program (Program Kewirausahaan Sosial, ProKus) which aims to create the self-reliance for start-up through business incubation/assistance.
The target of this mentoring is approximately 100 tenants who are the Keluarga Penerima Manfaat-Program Keluarga Harapan (KPM-PKH) in Karawang District, West Java. The assisted partners consist of entrepreneurs in culinary, convection, trade, animal husbandry, handcrafts and service.
Based on the first-stage incubation result carried out in August-December 2021, Unpas PIIB and ProKus Implementation Team of Karawang District has found few obstacles which have been faced by entrepreneurs.
It was stated in the national webinar and virtual expo entitled “Pemberdayaan Usaha Rintisan KPM-PKH dalam Menciptakan Kemandirian Usaha di Kabupaten Karawang”. The event was officially opened by Rector of Unpas, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Eddy Jusuf Sp, M.Si., M.Kom., IPU and attended by Directorate General of Social Empowerment (Dirjen Pemberdayaan Sosial, Dirjen Dayasos), Drs. Edi Suharto, M.Sc., Ph.D.
The event was also attended by Unpas PIIB Ir. Farid Rizayana, MT., Unpas PIIB Secretary Dr. Dindin Abdurohim Brata Sonjaya, M.Si., Packaging Expert Ir. Thomas Gozali, MP., and Head of ProKus of Karawang District Dr. Yuce Sariningsih, M.Si.
Head of Prokum Karawang District as well as teacher of Department of Social Welfare Studies, Dr. Yuce Sariningsih, M.Si stated that the main issues occurred in the field include that the businessmen who have not been optimal in carrying out financial book record, as well as making attractive packaging for the product, as well as selling value.
“It is important for KPM to get an assistance from the expert mentor who has already owned MSMEs assistance certificate. We collaborate together with the Indonesian Association for Business Development Services (ABDSI) to provide training regarding book recording, product packaging, as well as marketing,” she explained.
The assistance should be carried out as optimal as possible to make KPM be able to develop its business, as well as build the start-up business to support income continuity. Mentor has task to guide and make communication intensively, therefore it could raise awareness to strengthen the spirit of social entrepreneurship.
“The assistance itself has three stages; namely pre-incubation, incubation and post-incubation process. On pre-incubation process, we identify tenants’ problems and classify their problem priority, potential, as well as opportunity. Incubation process includes technical assistance to improve the skill. Last, the post-incubation process, we will facilitate and evaluate tenants’ progress,” she added.
Packaging Expert as well as teacher of Department of Food Technology Universitas Pasundan, Ir. Thomas Gozali, MP also conveyed about innovation for packaging the product to create a qualified processed-food product, safe for consumption, nutritionally proportional, halal, tasteful, and efficient.
Currently, Unpas PIIB and Implementation Team of ProKUS Karawang District is developing the website and application jagawarung.id to promote the marketing process, improve the product, as well as procure the daily need for stalls and MSMEs which can be accessed by assisted partners and general public.
The website Jaga Warung also provide the equipment/machine for the package, material and service for packaging printing. Other than that, it also offers us the menu ‘training’ consisting of tutorial video regarding the equipment use, business idea and others; as well as provides us the menu ‘graphic design’ and ‘equipment design’ which can be made simply at each partner’s location and product marketing target.
“Hopefully, ProKUS could be the program which is sustainable and beneficial, especially in improving income generating, in order not to depend on government assistance anymore,” she concluded. (Reta)*
