The Polytechnic of Fisheries Business Management organized the Maluku Provincial MSME Business Forum under the theme “Technical Guidance and Business Meeting for Fishery MSMEs in Maluku Province.” This event marked a strategic step by the Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) Indonesia together with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) to help MSMEs connect with marketing channels, improve product quality standards to compete, and safeguard local MSMEs in modern markets. The forum brought together fishery MSMEs from different cities (Ambon, Central Maluku, Southeast Maluku, Eastern Seram, and Kaimana Papua) with universities, banks (Bank Malukumalut and BRI), and modern retail representatives (Alfamart, Indogrosir, Indomaret, and Hypermart MCM).

Participants of the Business Meeting in Ambon City (August 12–14, 2025), which was facilitated by CFI Indonesia, included MSMEs from different cities (Ambon, Central Maluku, Southeast Maluku, Eastern Seram, and Kaimana Papua), alongside academic, banking (Malukumalut and BRI), and retail (Alfamart, Indogrosir, Indomaret, and Hypermart MCM) stakeholders.

This forum is part of CFI Indonesia’s program to support small-scale fishery enterprises in handling, distributing, and marketing fishery products within the Blue Economy framework in Maluku Province. With grant support from GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, channeled through the WWF US GEF Agency, the event highlighted the importance of global and local synergy in building a sustainable fishery ecosystem while strengthening MSME competitiveness.

The organizing committee chair, Prof. Maman Hermawan, emphasized that the forum successfully connected MSME actors from Ambon, Central Maluku, Southeast Maluku, Eastern Seram, and Kaimana (Papua) with universities, banks (Malukumalut and BRI), and representatives of modern retail companies (Alfamart, Indogrosir, Indomaret, and Hypermart and MCM).

The event, facilitated by CFI Indonesia, was also attended by the Head of Maluku Provincial Department of Industry and Trade and representatives of Polytechnic of Fisheries Business Management, WWF GEF Agency, and the CFI Indonesia GEF-6 PMU.

The forum’s key topics included strategies for improving product and packaging quality, product curation, compliance with food safety and halal standards, and mechanisms for marketing MSME products into modern retail networks. Through this forum, Maluku’s MSMEs are expected to gain comprehensive insights into distribution opportunities in modern markets while strengthening business networks at regional and national levels. The international grant from GEF-6 CFI Indonesia also ensures program sustainability, covering training on Good Fish Handling Practices (CPIB) and Good Fish Distribution Practices (CDIB) as well as product curation for readiness in modern retail.

Head of the Maluku Department of Industry and Trade, Dr. Ahmad Jais Ely, stressed that this forum serves as a gateway to broader partnerships. The signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the Maluku Provincial Government through Disperindag and 30 modern retailers in Ambon City will allocate 30% of shelf space exclusively for local MSME products in partnered retail outlets.

CFI Indonesia facilitated this agreement as a commitment to ensuring that market access of exclusive 30% of shelf space allocation for local MSMEs.

CFI Indonesia Project Manager, Dr. Adipati Rahmat, stated that this PKS guarantees equal access for local MSME products—including those fostered by CFI Indonesia. It also challenges MSMEs to improve product quality while leveraging local advantages such as raw material proximity and community sentiment to compete with products from outside Maluku.

Looking ahead, this initiative will be expanded so that Maluku MSMEs can maintain a sustainable presence in modern markets and, in the long term, reach international markets. To ensure sustainability, the Maluku Provincial Disperindag will involve regency/city-level Disperindag offices in providing guidance and monitoring implementation.

Through this collaboration, Maluku sends a strong message that its fishery products and local MSMEs are ready to compete with guaranteed quality, efficient supply chains, and expanding market support. This program forms an essential foundation for a sea-based economy and stands as a concrete example of Blue Economy implementation in eastern Indonesia.