UNDIP, Semarang (July 23, 2025) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) and PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret) strengthened their joint commitment to community economic empowerment through a strategic partnership focused on the agriculture and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors. The official meeting between the two parties, held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Rectorate Meeting Room of Widya Puraya Building, UNDIP Tembalang Campus, Semarang, marked the first step in enhancing collaboration based on local needs.
UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., welcomed the partnership and emphasized the university’s readiness to provide support through expert resources, applied research, and community service programs. “We believe the synergy between academia and industry will strengthen the foundation of a community-based economy,” he said.
Prof. Suharnomo also expressed gratitude to Indomaret, stating that this collaboration represents a concrete step in line with UNDIP’s mission to innovate and strengthen initiatives that empower farmers and local MSMEs.
“We extend our appreciation to PT Indomarco Prismatama’s Executive Director of Marketing Microeconomics, Feki Oktavianus, and his team. We hope this partnership and other initiatives will bring great benefits for both UNDIP and PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret),” Prof. Suharnomo added.
Indomaret, in turn, explained that the program would primarily focus on Batang Island Regency and other regions in Jawa Tengah and Jawa Barat. “We are here not only to open stores but also to deliver economic benefits to the surrounding communities. This is our commitment to empower society, especially local farmers,” said Feki Oktavianus.
The company stated that the empowerment program aims to develop agricultural products, such as papaya, melon, and watermelon, which have broad market potential and can be directly absorbed by Indomaret’s retail network. Product quality will be a key priority, with assistance from universities to improve the grade and competitiveness of the harvest.
“We want to build a shorter supply chain, directly from farmers to Indomaret. This way, prices can be more competitive, farmers can prosper, and consumers continue to receive quality products,” Feki added. He also emphasized the importance of forming community-based farmer institutions to ensure the program’s sustainability, both collectively and in the long term.
The program is also designed to provide technical assistance, including improving fruit quality in terms of color, size, weight (4–6 kg for watermelon), and shelf life. Indomaret hopes that support from UNDIP’s academics and students will accelerate the realization of this community empowerment initiative.
Through the synergy of research, assistance, and social innovation, this collaboration not only addresses the challenges of local economic resilience but also strengthens the role of universities in supporting farmers and MSMEs toward independence and competitiveness. This step aligns with UNDIP’s vision of ‘Noble and Valuable UNDIP’. It supports the Diktisaintek Berdampak agenda, which emphasizes the importance of science and technology contributions for societal advancement and well-being. (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ Viny&As)
