Eramet Indonesia, a global mining and metallurgy company from France, together with Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB Foundation), held the Local Finds Market by LAKSMI, an exhibition and marketplace featuring products and services from 50 selected women MSME entrepreneurs participating in the LAKSMI (Langkah Aksi Kapasitas Sosial Mikro untuk Inklusi) program, at Central Park Mall, West Jakarta, on Saturday (1/8).

The event was attended by Bastian, Assistant Deputy for Entrepreneurial Financing Expansion at the Ministry of MSMEs; Arend Van der Goes, Senior Sustainability Manager of Eramet Indonesia; and Linda Sukandar, Chief Operations Officer of YCAB Foundation.

During the event, Bastian, Assistant Deputy for Entrepreneurial Financing Expansion at the Ministry of MSMEs, expressed his appreciation for cross-sector collaboration in supporting women’s economic empowerment.

“We appreciate YCAB Foundation and Eramet for introducing the LAKSMI program. We hope that women MSME entrepreneurs can continue to develop their businesses by utilizing the various forms of support available, including the Ministry of MSMEs’ programs such as Sapa UMKM and financing access initiatives, so that their businesses can continue to grow,” said Bastian.

The Local Finds Market is part of the implementation of the LAKSMI program initiated by Eramet and YCAB Foundation through the global Women for Future program under Eramet Beyond. Following its launch in Jakarta and expansion to Ternate, the program has equipped hundreds of women ultra-micro entrepreneurs with training, mentoring, and business capacity-building support.

Through the Local Finds Market, 50 outstanding participants were given the opportunity to introduce and market their products directly to the public, while also expanding their market access through digital platforms and e-commerce.

“The LAKSMI program is designed not only to improve business capacity, but also to strengthen self-confidence, networks, and access to broader economic opportunities for women ultra-micro entrepreneurs. Through the Local Finds Market, we want to provide a space for participants to introduce their products directly to the public while opening up greater market opportunities,” said Arend Van der Goes, Senior Sustainability Manager of Eramet Indonesia.
Linda Sukandar, Chief Operations Officer of YCAB Foundation, said that the Local Finds Market serves as the culmination of the learning journey undertaken by participants throughout the LAKSMI program.

“The journey to today began with training attended by 464 MSME entrepreneurs, from which 50 top participants were selected to take part in the Local Finds Market. We designed this marketplace not merely as an exhibition, but also as a way to open access to a wider market so that MSME entrepreneurs can continue to grow, improve the quality of their products, and move their businesses to the next level,” said Linda.

Looking ahead, Eramet will continue to strengthen collaboration with various strategic partners to implement programs that support capacity building, access to economic opportunities, and entrepreneurship development, in line with the company’s commitment to creating a positive impact on communities through its Eramet Beyond sustainability initiatives.

[ERAMET] Press Release – Berdayakan UMKM Perempuan, Eramet dan YCAB Hadirkan Bazar Local Finds Market by LAKSMI