PALMOILMAGAZINE, BALIKPAPAN — The 2025 Info Franchise & Business Concept (IFBC) Expo, held at the Balikpapan Sport and Convention Center (BSCC) Dome from June 20 over three days, attracted entrepreneurs and investors from various sectors, ranging from food and beverage, beauty, and automotive to retail.
Among the standout participants was the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), which showcased a wide array of palm-based products from small, micro, and cooperative enterprises (UKMK). These products were part of the second edition of the 100 Palm-Based SME Products Catalog, highlighting innovations from palm oil smallholders and cooperatives across Indonesia.
BPDP’s presence at IFBC 2025 went beyond mere promotion. It served as a strategic initiative to foster collaboration between palm-based SMEs and potential partners. Helmi Muhansyah, Head of Community Cooperation and SME Division at BPDP, stated that the exhibition was a valuable opportunity to expand business networks and support the sustainability of palm oil SMEs.
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“BPDP is ready to collaborate to enhance both the market value and sustainability of palm-based SMEs. The launch of this catalog is part of our commitment to that goal,” Helmi said in an official statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Monday (July 14, 2025).
Helmi added that BPDP’s participation opened up promising business matchmaking opportunities for future SME development. He hopes that the enterprises nurtured since 2023 can build stronger, long-term partnerships.
“We aim for BPDP-supported SMEs to meet with strategic partners who can help scale up their businesses,” he added.
BPDP’s booth featured a diverse selection of palm oil derivative products, including food and beverages, personal care items, traditional textiles (wastra), organic fertilizers, and handicrafts made from palm oil waste. These products reflect eco-friendly, innovative practices developed through two years of intensive support.
BPDP’s Director General, Eddy Abdurachman, emphasized the importance of adding value to palm oil through innovation and sustainability to boost competitiveness.
“BPDP encourages SMEs not only to focus on production but also to innovate by turning palm derivatives and waste into environmentally friendly and competitive products,” he stated.
The second edition of the catalog builds on the initial publication released in 2023 and reflects the growing number of BPDP-supported SMEs in 2024 and 2025. It serves both as a promotional tool and as a map of palm-based product potential across regions.
Beyond the exhibition booths, IFBC 2025 Balikpapan also featured seminars and interactive discussions on topics such as investment strategies in the F&B sector, entrepreneurial opportunities for retirees, and empowering youth entrepreneurship in the digital era.
Ferdy Ferdianto, Head of Public Relations at the Indonesian Franchise Association, noted that IFBC serves not only as a business showcase but also as a platform for education and collaboration.
“IFBC is not just about business promotion—it’s also an educational and collaborative space for strengthening business networks,” Ferdy explained.
Through its participation in IFBC 2025, BPDP not only highlighted the outcomes of its SME mentoring program but also demonstrated the vast potential of palm-based SMEs within the national industrial ecosystem. Support for these enterprises is seen as crucial to empowering smallholders and entrepreneurs within a sustainable and inclusive palm oil value chain. (P2)
