Forging a Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Growth
The city of Makassar has initiated a new and promising partnership with Programma Uitzending Managers (PUM), a well-regarded Dutch non-profit organization. This collaboration is designed to provide a much-needed boost to the city’s tourism sector while simultaneously supporting the development and growth of its micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Makassar’s Deputy Mayor, Aliyah Mustika Ilham, emphasized the city’s unwavering commitment to building strong collaborations with various stakeholders, highlighting PUM’s renowned expertise in supporting SMEs across numerous countries. She stated that PUM’s presence offers a unique and valuable opportunity to accelerate the sustainable growth of Makassar’s key economic sectors. The deputy mayor also framed this international partnership as a strategic move to provide practical, experience-based solutions for the city’s unique challenges. Additionally, she offered guidance to the local Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) in South Sulawesi, encouraging them to coordinate with the Makassar Creative Hub to promote and foster innovative local MSMEs.
Deploying Expertise to Empower Local Businesses
The core of this partnership involves deploying seasoned expertise directly to local organizations and businesses. PUM representative Joop Goossens explained that the organization’s model involves sending senior experts from the Netherlands to provide on-the-ground technical guidance and hands-on training to SMEs. These experts will focus on enhancing critical business areas, including managerial capacity, overall business efficiency, and competitiveness within key sectors such as tourism, the culinary arts, and the creative economy. The chairperson of ASITA South Sulawesi, Didi Manaba, confirmed that the collaboration is specifically aimed at improving the organization’s performance, competitiveness, and overall professionalism in its approach to tourism development. To kick off the initiative, PUM’s 10-day support program began on July 28 and has already deployed experts specializing in a wide range of fields, including organizational management, hospitality, digitalization, marketing, and human resources. This comprehensive support is intended to build lasting capacity within the local community.
A Vision for Tourism-Led Economic Recovery
Ultimately, this partnership is driven by a shared vision to foster tourism-based economic recovery and the sustainable empowerment of local SMEs. By pooling their expertise and resources, the city of Makassar and PUM aim to establish a strong, impactful collaboration that will generate tangible and long-lasting benefits for the local community. The deputy mayor reaffirmed that the city government welcomes all such initiatives that align with its mission of empowering local communities and adapting to global changes in a proactive way. Both parties are confident that by working together, they can effectively leverage local potential and drive progress, positioning Makassar as a model city for how to successfully use international cooperation to support economic revitalization. This strategic alignment underscores a forward-looking approach to growth, focusing not only on immediate gains but also on building a more resilient and prosperous future for its residents.
