In order to find more consumers, the Nirun Mandiri Sejahtera Honey Farmer Group has since 2023 steadily joined the Special Economic Zone (KEK) Tanjung Kelayang, Belitung, Bangka Belitung Province.
There, this group of honey farmers received facilities to set up a mini farm, a kind of storefront to market their honey products, known as Pelabo honey - a type of honey native to Keciput Village, Sijuk District, Belitung.
Yes, finding new markets is the main goal of the honey farmers here. At least, by opening a small farm in Tanjung Kelayang SEZ, visitors can directly see and taste their honey products. "Tourists who are invited to the mini farm usually buy our honey, although the quantity isstill not large-scale," said Sutrisno, Head of the Nirun Mandiri Sejahtera Honey Farming Group.
The Nirun Mandiri Sejahtera Honey Cattle Group has been established since 2020, based on the Decree of the Keciput Village Head. "But for legality we also have a Ministry of Law and Human Rights decree (notary deed). For our bee cultivation land, we use social forestry land (village forest)," Sutrisno said.
Currently, the status of the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) is in the platinum class and has a management license of approximately 13 hectares.
Tanjung Kelayang is an SEZ established through Government Regulation No. 6/2016. It is located in Tanjong Tinggi Village, Sijuk District, Belitung Regency. This area is an exclusive zone devoted to the development of the tourism industry.
Sutrisno admitted that being part of the Tajung Kelayang SEZ is a strategy to facilitate his party in marketing products and opening up other cooperation opportunities with other parties. Especially in product marketing and the development of ecotourism edu activities.
"We really hope for support in increasing production by providing proper production houses so that honey production can run optimally," he said.
Members of this farmer group also hope for the development or improvement of human resources through certified beekeeping training activities or mock study activities, in order to open up insights in preserving nature through this honey bee cultivation activity.
"In addition, we also expect financing for the development of honey bee cultivation. We hope this will support and increase our honey production capacity to be maximized," Sutrisno said.
UMKM empowerment to environmental conservation
As we know, in order to accelerate economic development evenly, the government has taken various measures. One of them is a breakthrough in the form of the development of special economic zones (SEZs) in various regions that are believed to encourage new economic growth centers with high competitiveness.
However, SEZs are not just production zones with all kinds of facilities provided by the government. SEZs are a kind of new ecosystem supported by a complementary community.
Acting Secretary General of the National Council for Special Economic Zones Rizal Edwin Manansang emphasized that in order for UMKM to optimally leverage the economy, it is also necessary to involve UMKM and economic activities of communities around the area. Positive SEZ performance is also expected to have an impact on the surrounding area. "All of this is what grows the local economy in real terms," said Edwin.
The government also needs to encourage the use of local labor through cooperation between SEZ managers, employment agencies, and training institutions, so that industry needs can be filled by human resources from the surrounding area.
"There is also a link and match with vocational education, so that the curriculum and training provided are in accordance with the needs of the industry in the SEZ," he said.
Director of Tanjung Kelayang SEZ, Daniel Alexander, admitted that in order to grow the economy in the area directly, his party needs to collaborate with many UMKM. Currently, the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ has collaborated with Sepiak batik producers, the name for Belitung's local batik style,
Tanjung Kelayang SEZ also encourages honey farmers to be able to carry out their commercial activities, their product introduction activities or their education, in the Tanjung Kelayang special economic zone, free of charge. "So they can sell quite a bit of revenue, for per day they get quite a lot," said Daniel.
The environmental activists who are members of this group provide activities to introduce biodiversity, especially the protection of tarsiers, primates endemic to Belitung Island.
In addition, according to Daniel, they collaborate with the Arsel community, or Air Selumar community, which manages the Bukit Peramun community forest. The environmental activists who are members of this group provide activities to introduce biodiversity, especially the protection of tarsiers, an endemic primate on Belitung Island.
The group organizes wild tarsier viewing activities, with local rangers. "Interestingly, they also provide afternoon tea, which has been packaged very well," Daniel said.
So, if the Arsel community used to sell daily tickets per person for around Rp 10,000, and rely on mass tourism to come, now they can focus on special interest activities, which are sold in packages of Rp 2 million and a half. "Only those who see it are more segmented, and more limited. Also the income they get on a monthly basis is much greater than they rely on mass tourism," said Daniel.
The management of Tanjung Selayang SEZ is also active in the Belitung UNESCO Global Geopark, helping it to continue to gain public awareness .
Currently, we at Tanjung Selayang SEZ are encouraging the publication that Belitung has a Belitung UNESCO Global Geopark. "We invite journalists from abroad too, so that they can get to know that Belitung has you know, a geopark that has been recognized by UNESCO," Daniel explained.
Customizing the generation
Regarding preserving cultural heritage, the Singhasari SEZ in Malang, East Java, in its business processes related to tourism development also always carries the spirit of the theme of culture and heritage. However, the approach is more to elements that adjust the passion of the current generation.
"Tourism development if it only focuses on antiquity, then it becomes unattractive to millennials and Gen Z. It needs a contemporary approach and that is by utilizing digital technology," said Corporate Secretary and General Manager of BUPP KEK Singhasari, Kriswidayat Praswanto.
By framing tourism with the theme of culture and heritage, it will be much more interesting and informative and embedded in the subconscious mind of visitors or tourists.
As a SEZ engaged in the digital creative industry sector, namely animation, videography, cinematography, and coding, whose business scale is UMKM, the tenants of the Singhasario SEZ are mostly UMKM from Malang Raya. There are currently 15 digital creative industries with UMKM scale activities in the Singhasari SEZ.
On the other hand, activities in Singhasari SEZ have a multiplier effect on the surrounding community and UMKM players, including the growing boarding business. Basic needs providers such as stalls, shops, depots, laundry businesses are also growing rapidly. Itinerant sellers of various goods and street vendors have made Singhasari SEZ a magnet for their businesses.
In general, the community around Singhasari SEZ is very supportive of the existence of Singhasari SEZ. "And until now there has never been any friction with the surrounding or local communities," Kriswidayat said.
Triple helix collaboration
Banten SEZ or D-HUB SEZ plays a slightly different role, positioning itself as a facilitator that bridges international universities, local incubators and global venture capital. The model is a triple helix: academia, business and government collaborate in one area.
"Universities provide research and talent, incubators provide acceleration, while investors provide capital, all facilitated by the D-HUB SEZ ecosystem," said D-HUB SEZ Chief of Corporate Sales & Marketing Dian Asmahani.
Dian added, in the D-HUB SEZ, education is closely intertwined with the economic framework, ensuring a continuous flow of talent to build a globally competitive Indonesian workforce, in order to realize the vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045.
Educational institutions in the D-HUB SEZ focus on vocational and international higher education directly connected to industry. "Indonesian talents are not only ready to work, but ready to compete at the global level," he said.
The D-HUB SEZ also sets up an inclusive ecosystem for global investors to bring standards, technology and networks. While local businesses - including local startups - bring market understanding, creativity, and quick adaptation.
This collaboration is encouraged through research partnerships, incubators, and co-creation between global tenants and local players. "With this model, D-HUB SEZ is not only a place for international companies, but also a bridge for local players to upgrade and go global," Dian said.
Mukhlison, Gema Dzikri, and Dian Amalia
