Polman Negeri Babel Strengthens MSMEs Through Focus Group Discussions, Encourages Downstream Processing and Digital Marketing
Deputy Director III of Polman Negeri Babel, Eko Sulisto, M.T., invited MSMEs to utilize digital marketing to increase product sales value.
The State Manufacturing Polytechnic of Bangka Belitung (Polman Babel), the best university in Bangka Belitung, supported the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Digital Marketing to Increase Product Downstreaming Through Sustainable Partnerships within the 2026 Vocational College Revitalization Program, held at the Novilla Boutique Resort on Tuesday (April 28, 2026).
This FGD provided an important platform for business owners to share experiences, marketing strategies, and strengthen partnership networks in the face of rapidly evolving digital market competition.
Some of the MSMEs present included Rusmiyadi from Payung with his Pelawan Tea product; Rusina from Batu Rusa with his Shiena Handmade; Trisna Reza from Syahwa Craft; Tri Sisca Febriyanti from Shesca Gallery; Shintia Suyoto with his Nourbae product; Tiga Merpati MSME from Pemali; and Minar Effendi from Sungailiat with his legendary Flying Horse Soy Sauce.
In addition to the MSMEs, the event was attended by Deputy Director I and Deputy Director III of Polman Babel, along with lecturers and resource persons. Agusdianto Alfatih Group, Oscar Andreas from Barokah Group, Venny Andriani from Veni Bumbu, and Sugia from Teh Tayu presented material.
In his remarks, Deputy Director III of Polman Babel, Eko Sulisto, M.T., explained that "downstreaming is the process of transforming raw materials into finished products with higher sales value, as it simply depends on how the promotion and digital marketing are continuously strengthened."
Furthermore, Eko highlighted the use of social media as an effective digital marketing tool in today's era, as technological developments must be leveraged optimally to enable local MSME products to compete in a wider market.
"There needs to be an exchange of promotional ideas and experiences regarding the role of social media in digital marketing," he added.
"In this regard, Polman Babel not only focuses on educating students, but also has a social responsibility in helping the community and its MSME partners develop and become a bridge between the world of education and the needs of the community's creative industry," he explained.
Meanwhile, Oscar Andreas, an MSME from the Barokah Group, explained the development of his Kinikawa-labeled coffee product, which is currently gaining popularity among young people from Pangkalpinang to Sungailiat. He believes that business success is determined not only by capital, but also by the courage to start and consistency in building product branding.
"When starting a business, you must run it with joy and love for the product you make. Branding must also be established from the beginning so that the business has a strong identity," he said.
Meanwhile, Sugia, from the Teh Tayu MSME, shared his business journey, starting from the ground up and growing to what it is today. The Teh Tayu recipe originates from a Chinese family heritage in Tayu Village and has been maintained to this day.
"Therefore, the experience of starting a business from scratch allows entrepreneurs to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their products," he admitted.
Furthermore, Teh Tayu itself has health benefits, including its supposed benefits for those with high cholesterol," he explained.
Furthermore, during the event, a collaboration agreement was signed between Polman Babel and MSMEs, which is expected to open up long-term partnership opportunities," he concluded.
