Harianjogja.com, MAGELANG – The National Craft Council (Dekranas) of Indonesia launched the Entrepreneurship Skills Training (PKW) in Borobudur on Sunday (27/9/2020). This activity is expected to foster new entrepreneurs who will become Indonesia's pride.

Nanny Hadi Tjahjanto, Deputy Daily Chair 2 of Dekranas, stated that Dekranas has been running its programs for four decades, with a noble vision of supporting Indonesia's economic independence through the development of the craft sector based on creativity, local wisdom, high added value, competitiveness, and the ability to compete both domestically and internationally as a driver of exports.

"The role and importance of the craft industry in national development is as a means of income distribution, creating new businesses, and preserving the nation's cultural heritage,” she said in a virtual speech broadcast from Omah Mbudur, Jowahan, Wanurejo, Borobudur.

Dekranas sees the need for a community participation platform that functions to assist government partners in developing crafts, especially in supporting tourism in the five super priority destinations: Toba, Borobudur, Likupang, Mandalika, and Labuan Bajo.

Indonesia is currently stepping into Industry 4.0, characterized by digitalization and automation. However, not all elements of society are aware of the logical consequences or impacts of the changes it brings, including in the craft sector.

Seeing this, Dekranas has taken the initiative to encourage all elements of craft business actors to be more concerned and creative in the Industry 4.0 era by promoting non-formal or vocational education to adjust the curriculum to the current era's demands and needs, including in the craft sector.

This curriculum is intended to open access for the millennial generation to gain knowledge and training in crafts to become competitive and productive entrepreneurs, realizing smart producers based on current technology. "We hope this training will give rise to new entrepreneurs who will become Indonesia's pride,” explained Nanny.

She explained that PKW is an educational service through courses and training to provide knowledge, skills, and foster an entrepreneurial mindset in managing personal and environmental potential, which can be used as a foundation for entrepreneurship. It includes a competency curriculum, entrepreneurship materials, technology-based craft skills, and startup ventures that prioritize computer information technology.

Endang Budi Karya Sumadi, Head of the New Entrepreneurship Division of Dekranas, who also delivered a virtual speech, added that they agreed to synergize the new entrepreneurship development program by collaborating with other institutions.

This program synergy aims to encourage and increase public interest in entrepreneurship by exploring and utilizing local resource potential in areas designated by the government as the five super priority tourist destinations.

"The synergy program will be implemented in Borobudur to create new entrepreneurs facing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and there are five super priority destinations in Indonesia. This program will be conducted with the permission of the local Health Office and in compliance with Covid-19 prevention health protocols,” she explained.

Peni Rahayu, Daily Chair of Dekranasda Central Java, who read the speech of the Chair of Dekranasda Central Java, Siti Atikoh Ganjar Pranowo, stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on various parties, including SMEs, cooperatives, and IKM in Central Java.

However, many cooperatives and IKMs with resilient entrepreneurial spirits have turned these challenges into opportunities. "Money and opportunities still exist, but priorities have changed, so we must adjust our business models and ventures by involving many existing communities,” she said.

With PKW and craft training, it is hoped that IKMs will be motivated to become creative, innovative, and productive in developing their businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling them to compete with products currently available in the market.

It is known that the PKW activities at Borobudur KSPN were attended by 200 participants from the Magelang Regency and City areas. The activities were held from September 27 to 31, 2020. PKW participants are community members around the Borobudur Super Priority Tourist Destination. The activities involved seven Learning Centers, including PKBM Ngudi Ilmu Salaman Magelang, SMK Al Huda Salaman Magelang, SMK Syubbanul Wathon Tegalrejo Magelang, SMK Maarif Salam Magelang, Sanggar Kinnara Kinnari Borobudur, the Family of Police Children of the Central Java Regional Police Resort Magelang, and the Nahdlatul Ulama Economic Institution PCNU Magelang Regency.