Jakarta, 15 April 2020 - Pressure on the economy and business sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic is quite tough. However, the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) fostered by PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk or BNI continue to try to survive. Not only trying to maintain their livelihood, SMEs strive to help the government and medical personnel to meet the needs of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical masks, to hand sanitizers.
The SMEs are active in BNI’s fostered Rumah Kreatif BUMN (RKB). At least there are RKB producing hazmat clothing or protective clothing, namely RKB Bantaeng, South Sulawesi; RKB Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan; RKB Cilacap, Central Java; and RKB Padang, West Sumatera.
Meanwhile, in nine RKBs, there are more than 30 SMEs producing masks. Those RKBs are RKB Bekasi, West Java; Padang, West Sumatera; Cilacap, Central Java; Tabalong, South Kalimantan; Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan; Bantaeng, South Sulawesi; Tegal, Central Java; Mamuju, West Sulawesi; and Way Kanan, Lampung.
The Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of BNI, Tambok P. Setyawati in Jakarta, Tuesday, 14 April 2020, said that SMEs are able to produce cloth masks up to 300 pieces per day. The cloth mask products are then used to meet the needs of the local community or sold in the online market so they can be sent outside the city.
"What is encouraging is that a number of RKBs have collaborated with local hospitals in making personal protective clothing. "Hazmat clothing products are prioritized to meet the needs of hospitals in the area," he said.
Tambok confirmed, the effort taken by BNI and its fostered SMEs is a step to make it easier for hospitals and medical personnel to obtain adequate PPE and help the public get affordable self-protection products, namely non-medical masks. The joint effort was intended to break the COVID-19 chain through the provision of environmentally friendly hand sanitizers.
"This effort also revives SMEs so that they continue to get business opportunities and earn income in difficult times. This is also part of the RKB's concern for the community, nation and state during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
Herbal Drink
In addition, according to Tambok, as an effort to increase health workers’ stamina in hospitals, BNI sends donations in the form of herbal drinks which are the production of SMEs at BNI’s RKBs. This activity helps local SMEs continue to stay productive. These herbal products are believed to increase stamina during this pandemic. The products produced include red ginger powder, secang, lemongrass, and curcuma in sachet packaging and ready to drink bottles.
For more information, please contact :
Corporate Secretary BNI
Phone: 021-5728387
Email: bni@bni.co.id.