Desty, a pioneering technology startup focused on commerce solutions in Indonesia, has successfully orchestrated the "Indonesia SME Summit & Expo 2023 (ISSE 2023)," a dynamic event aimed at fostering a favorable business environment for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Indonesia. This three-day event, held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD, Tangerang, from August 29 to 31, 2023, was a catalyst for innovation, creativity, and growth within the ever-evolving digital landscape of MSMEs.

Franky Oesman Widjaya, Deputy Chairman II of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), expressed his profound appreciation for Desty's pioneering role in organizing ISSE 2023. He highlighted the alignment of this event with Kadin's "Inclusive Closed Loop" program, which aims to empower MSMEs and enable them to harness the advantages often reserved for larger corporations.

"MSMEs need to embrace technology comprehensively, particularly with mentoring support," Franky emphasized during his keynote address.

In his enlightening speech, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, urged the public to acknowledge the unique allure of MSMEs, which thrive through creative ingenuity. He stressed that creativity plays a pivotal role in the progression of MSMEs, particularly in the digital arena.

"Creativity isn't solely about making your business stand out; it's about creating ingenious solutions and confronting change with fresh, innovative ideas. Innovative MSMEs possess a competitive edge and can seize new opportunities in the digital era," Sandiaga emphasized.

Sandiaga regarded ISSE 2023 as more than just an ordinary event; it was an inspirational platform offering profound insights into how creativity can reshape the landscape for MSMEs. He hoped that MSME participants would return from this event with renewed vigor, fresh ideas, and concrete strategies to elevate their businesses to new heights.

Fixy, an official from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UKM), who attended ISSE 2023 and explored the booths, viewed the event as an ecosystem that could greatly benefit MSMEs, particularly in terms of branding. She pointed out that many MSMEs tend to overlook the importance of branding, which is an invaluable intangible asset. By engaging with Desty and other platforms at the event, MSMEs could access guidance and support from various digitalization experts, thereby alleviating their branding and marketing concerns.

"If MSMEs can leverage this, they won't need to worry about branding and marketing, allowing them to focus on production since there's already a ready team," she remarked.

Indonesia SME Summit & Expo 2023 featured a series of events, including conferences, panel discussions, interactive exhibitions, and opportunities to collaborate with over 50 top-tier merchant and supplier partners. Participants gained profound insights into various topics relevant to MSMEs and small and medium-sized business owners, including e-commerce strategies, online selling experiences, and the development of robust business ecosystems.

Desty's Co-founder and CEO, Mulyono Xu, shed light on the challenges faced by many MSMEs during the pandemic while highlighting Indonesia's rapid economic recovery. He underscored the significance of collective adaptation and digitalization efforts to realize Indonesia's vision of becoming a global economic player by 2045.

"To bring this vision to life, we need a robust technological foundation that supports not only the initiation but also the sustainable growth of MSMEs. The objective is clear: to establish an ecosystem-based technological platform for knowledge sharing and inspiration," he stated.

As the event organizer, Desty is firmly committed to facilitating growth and innovation in trade. ISSE 2023 stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit and dedication to creating a bright and innovative future for Indonesia's MSMEs.

During the event, Mulyono also introduced several new Desty products designed to assist merchants in running their businesses. These include Desty Wholesale, a wholesale platform seamlessly connecting sellers and traders, and Desty Market, a novel concept designed to create an ecosystem where various business partners can collaborate to streamline business operations and foster development for MSMEs.

ISSE 2023 garnered support from numerous leading sponsors and partners, all dedicated to fostering the growth of MSMEs in Indonesia. These include Sinarmas, J&T Cargo, Alibaba Cloud, East Ventures, Praktis, Google Cloud, DOKU, Sevenpreneur, Devoteam, IDN Times, Detiknetwork, and KG Media. The event was organized by Desty and received support from TikTok, Lazada, Blibli, Akulaku, KADIN, Smesco, and the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises.

For more information, please visit the official ISSE 2023 page at desty.page/isse.