In the latest milestone of its partnership with Coca Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia, local omnichannel commerce startup Serabut Nusa says it has helped a number of Indonesian MSMEs to export their products to Japan and the Netherlands.
Among the products exported are decoration ornaments made out of waste plastic and wood, a variety of herbs, as well as kitchen utensils made out of bamboo and wood.
“We try to offer an additional perspective to MSMEs, daring them to dream of exporting their products to overseas markets, and actively work with different stakeholders to make it happen,” says Dimas Herdy Utomo, Serabut Nusa co-founder and CEO.
Based in Semarang, Central Java, Serabut Nusa describes itself as a social enterprise that empowers MSMEs through its flagship web-based marketplace that helps MSME products reach a wider market, as well as through different forms of assistance such as coaching, training, facilitating and consulting.
The company first established a partnership with beverage giant Coca Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Indonesia in 2021, when it agreed to manage CCEP Indonesia’s CSR funds in accordance with ESG principles.
The two entities teamed up to introduce the ‘Empowered MSME’ program, which aims to empower MSMEs in Central Java by helping them increase their sales, expand markets and improve the quality of their products.
The program, Dimas says, has helped participants increase sales by an average of 50% and will be rolled out in other regions soon.
“Serabut Nusa and CCEP are committed to continuing to develop partnerships to support the empowerment of MSMEs in Indonesia. We plan to expand the reach of the “Empowered MSMEs” program to more regions in Indonesia and to develop new initiatives to help MSMEs increase their competitiveness,” he says.
Beyond the partnership with CCEP, Serabut Nusa says it has seen notable growth in 2023 from both a business and impact perspective. While it chooses not to disclose exact figures, Serabut Nusa saw around 50% increase in the number of MSMEs that joined its ecosystem, while transaction volume on its platform went up by at least 70% compared to the previous year.
While enjoying such financial upside, the company also provided training and consultation to thousands of MSMEs throughout 2023, helping them improve their business skills and capacity.
In 2024, improving the competitiveness of MSMEs in the country will be one of the main goals of Serabut Nusa, Dimas says. His company plans to kick start a number of initiatives to this end, such as providing assistance related to product development, digital marketing, financial management and export readiness.
“As a social company that focuses on empowering MSMEs, Serabut Nusa is committed to increasing sales of MSME products in every omnichannel distribution channel it has. This commitment is in line with Serabut Nusa’s mission to create a positive social impact for MSMEs in Indonesia,” Dimas says.