The Community Service Team from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Indonesia (UI), organized a program to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Entikong District, Sanggau Regency. The activity involved 50 participants, consisting of MSME actors, local residents, and community representatives in the border area.
Held on August 26–28, 2025, the program—supported by the Directorate of Community Engagement and Social Innovation (DPIS) UI, the Department of Biology FMIPA UI, and the Pandu Cendekia Foundation—carried the theme “Strengthening MSMEs in Border Areas”, with a primary focus on enhancing the competitiveness of local products in the Indonesia–Malaysia border region.
The program was led by Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Si., together with a team consisting of Fajar Reza Budiman, Windya Fajira, Amelia Said, and Hedza Fadli Robbina. In its implementation, the team provided various trainings for participants, ranging from product packaging workshops, digital marketing training, and financial management, to socialization on business legality such as Business Identification Numbers (NIB) and halal certification.
“Entikong is a strategic area as it serves as one of the main gateways for cross-border trade. Local products here have great potential to grow, but they need to be supported with attractive packaging, proper marketing strategies, well-organized financial records, and clear business legality,” said Dr. Retno.
The participants enthusiastically took part in the entire series of activities aimed at strengthening business capacity and expanding market access for local products. The local government also welcomed the initiative brought by the UI team. The Head of Entikong District, Yulius Eka Suhendra, S.Sos., expressed his appreciation for the program.
“We are very grateful for the attention given by Universitas Indonesia through this program. Trainings like these are very helpful for MSME actors in improving product quality and expanding their market reach,” he said.
In addition to the presentations, participants also took part in practical sessions on product branding, simple logo design, packaging labels, and the use of social media as a promotional tool. Business owners were also equipped with the skills to prepare simple cash records to separate personal and business finances.
One of the key agendas in this program was a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with MSME actors to identify the challenges they face. Among them were weak financial record-keeping and a decline in consumer purchasing power, which were considered to require continuous product innovation.
Through the FGD, the UI team also provided direct on-site solutions, including product photography techniques for digital promotion needs, as well as strategies to enhance visibility through online platforms.
