Indonesia: AMANAH Training Successfully Produces Leading Product Innovations for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Region

By: Madi Al-Hadi

Training in the Aceh Youth Creative Hub (AYCH) or Aneuk Muda Aceh Unggul dan Besar (AMANAH) successfully gave birth to innovations in superior products from regional Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to develop to the national and international stage.

One indication of the success of the training carried out by the superior strategic program of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) through the initiation of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), is that currently quite a few of their mentors are able to produce various superior product innovations.

With training from AMANAH, regional MSMEs are now experiencing very significant development and they can even be much more advanced, making superior products using professional methods.

Various superior products from AMANAH’s MSMEs then became exhibitions at the People’s Festival, which took place at Blang Padang Field, Banda Aceh.

There is a superior product there that has succeeded in attracting the attention of many visitors, namely nutmeg ‘beer’. It turns out that this superior product is a work created by a former bank security guard named Ayuzar Saputra.

He created an innovation in 2 superior products, namely Nutmeg Coffee and then its partner Pala Beer. No half-hearted, even the testing process for the nutmeg-based drink itself took a long time, namely 6 months until the creation of an innovative product like today.

Thanks to AMANAH’s optimal and optimal training and approach, the enthusiasm and work ethic of the youth has increased. This is evident from how the effort to create nutmeg beer took a long time.

In fact, even though they operate on a small scale, namely at the MSME level, local business owners also have sufficient knowledge regarding professional methods for creating superior products.

So it is not just limited to making products, but AMANAH’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises also do not hesitate to produce and take care of licensing for their products.

As per the results of research in the licensing process at the Food and Drug Product Inspection Agency (BPOM), the efficacy of Pala Beer, which is one of the innovative products from AYCH-assisted MSMEs, is for people suffering from insomnia, then as a medicine for diabetes and also improving blood circulation.

Not only that, but this nutmeg-based drink is also able to treat stomach acid and bloating. In an effort to produce a product that actually brings health benefits, the key importance is choosing natural ingredients.

By joining young people to become AMANAH-assisted MSMEs, it is not impossible to make them more advanced and developed, even to the extent that there are also guidance efforts for marketing.

Meanwhile, according to the Co-Founder of Gula Joek Aceh, Hana Abelia Putri, who is also an AMANAH training participant. He considered that through the initiation program of the institution led by Police General (Ret.) Prof. Dr. Budi Gunawan was able to further increase his knowledge and capacity in entrepreneurship.

Apart from that, young people who have been in dire need of a platform to accommodate all their ideas, can actually be helped further in developing their businesses thanks to Aneuk Muda Aceh Superior and Great.

There is one of the superior products from local MSMEs under the guidance of AMANAH which, even from 2022 until now, has been able to be sold outside regions such as Makassar and often participates in various national level expos.

With the Government’s assistance through BIN’s initiation of the Aceh Youth Creative Hub program, it can further help expand the marketing of local superior products from regional MSME activists.

According to the Regional Coordinator (Korda) of the Nusantara Student Executive Board (BEM) through the Regional Treasurer of BEM Nusantara, M. Arif, the activities carried out by AMANAH are a very effective event in raising the younger generation to become more aware of how important the role of entrepreneurship is.

If entrepreneurs take a bigger role in Indonesia, it is not impossible that MSME players will even become one of the strong parties to help suppress inflation in the country.

Because of the various positive activities that AMANAH is holding, it is not impossible that it will further stimulate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the area known as Rencong State.

Slowly, there is now a change in thinking or mindset among young people, namely that they are now starting to think that after graduating from college, the goal should not only be to work but instead be able to create jobs for other people.

The successful birth of innovation for superior products from local MSME players in the region cannot be separated from the role of training with a good approach from AMANAH.

*) Social and Political Science Students at Malikussaleh University (Unimal)