Village products rich in local wisdom are believed to enhance the existence of a nation. In Indonesia, a new entrepreneurship model is emerging to promote the independence and prestige of village products on a global scale, known as Global Gotong Royong (G2R) Tetrapreneur.
This program is an innovative solidarity movement and village entrepreneurship initiative to bring Indonesian local wisdom to the world stage.
By emphasizing the noble value of cooperation, this model is expected to serve as a reference for achieving collective prosperity (co-prosperity) through a multi-stakeholder collaboration strategy that begins with villages and their diverse superior products.
The G2R Tetrapreneur concept was initiated in 2018 by Dr. Rika Fatimah P. L., a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM) in Wukirsari Village and Girirejo Village, Bantul Regency, as pilot villages for G2R Tetrapreneur under the Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control Agency of Yogyakarta.
Subsequently, in 2019, the Yogyakarta Cooperatives and SMEs Agency also promoted the G2R Tetrapreneur program, emphasizing culture as the root of village entrepreneurship activities. This program, known as G2R Tetrapreneur Culture, was funded by Yogyakarta’s Special Funds (Danais) in five villages.
Since then, G2R Tetrapreneur has made significant contributions to Indonesia. In addition to fostering iconic innovations in transmigration areas in collaboration with the Faculty of Geography and other interdisciplinary faculties at UGM, the program has opened global market access for G2R Tetrapreneur products through cooperation with the Indonesian Embassies and Indonesian Trade Promotion Centers (ITPC) in several world cities, including Cairo, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
For her dedication as the founder, conceptor, and expert of G2R Tetrapreneur, Dr. Rika Fatimah received an award as the Initiator of G2R Tetrapreneur in Transmigration Areas (G2RT-KT).
The Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, Dr. (HC) A. Halim Iskandar, presented the award on Monday, May 6, 2024, during the Transmigration Coordination Meeting in Makassar.
Dr. Fatimah was awarded for initiating the G2R Tetrapreneur Program in the national priority area of East Muna Raya (Mutiara), Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province.
This program was implemented through the 2023 Kedaireka Matching Fund competitive funding in partnership with the Directorate General of Development of Transmigration Areas (Ditjen PPKTrans) of the Ministry of Villages and the Muna Regency Government.
“The G2R program involves Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) as a platform for products from the community. This program will greatly assist MSMEs with superior products in villages, as their production will be supported in marketing until they succeed in national and international markets,” she explained.
Dr. Fatimah added that the main requirement for a superior product is that 80% of the raw materials must be sourced within the village. Some examples of premium products from the G2R Tetrapreneur Unit include banana products from Girirejo, Dioscorea hispida products from Wukirsari, beef products from Bejiharjo, spice products from Pagerharjo, chili and moringa products from Karangwuni, corn products from Salamrejo, and bamboo products from Sendangmulyo.
In addition to producing superior goods, there are culturally superior products such as natural wealth, arts, and local wisdom, like the Lengger Tapeng Dance from Pagerharjo, Joglo Batur in Patuk, and Bale Langit Cafe in Salamrejo.
“To date, the G2R Tetrapreneur unit has grown in 28 villages and three urban areas, collaborating with approximately 26 partners, including 20 supporting and six retail partners,” she revealed.
Report: FEB UGM
Author: Triya Andriyani