The Effectiveness of Salt Business Empowering Program (Pugar) on Salt Farmers’ Income Improvement in Kedungmutih Village of Demak Regency

Indonesian national low productivity of salt which is unequal between the need level and salt consumption eventually results in salt import made mainly to meet the industrial needs. The government through the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has released a Public Salt Business Empowering Program (known as PUGAR/Pemberdayaan Usaha Garam Rakyat). PUGAR is an empowering program focusing on the improvement of job opportunities and welfare for salt farmers/managers to achieve the self-sufficiency of salt for consumptions and industries. This research aims at examining the influence of salt business empowering program on the salt farmers’ income improvement in Kedungmalang village of Jepara Regency; the implementation level of salt business empowering program in Kedungmutih Village of Demak Regency when compared to that in Kedungmalang Village of Jepara Regency; and the influence of salt business empowering program on the salt farmers’ income improvement in Kedungmutih village of Demak regency. The research was conducted using a descriptive method with a case study approach. The program implementation was quantitatively analyzed. Furthermore, the effectiveness of PUGAR on income was analyzed using T-test. The test result showed that there were income differences in Kedungmutih and Kedungmalang Village before and after the implementation of PUGAR. This finding showed that PUGAR was proven as an effective program to improve the salt farmers’ welfare through income improvement.

Challenges of Manufacturing Born Global SME : Evidence from Surgical Instrument Manufacturing Cluster, Sialkot, Pakistan

Owing to their gigantic participation in global economic growth, the phenomenon of SMEs internationalization has become the centre of attention for numerous researchers. The firms operating from low-tech industry and from developing nation were largely ignored. Internationalization phenomenon from underdeveloped cluster of a developing nation facing daunting challenges that hinder SMEs performance and growth; turns out to be an attention-grabbing area – hence, worth-investigating. The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges of manufacturing born global SMEs from surgical instrument manufacturing cluster Sialkot, Pakistan. More specifically, the objective is to explore the kind of challenges and their effect on the performance of these born global SMEs. To carry out this research, data was collected through a questionnaire from 100 respondents (managers/entrepreneurs). Based on the findings, the study identify the challenges like employees' loyalty, shortage of skilled technical workforce, retention of experienced and skilled workforce, staff motivation, staff recognition and promotion, staff development, and performance appraisals. The results of this study also support the hypothesis that poor management skills (FIRM, marketing, finance, and production) are challenges and contribute to the poor performance of manufacturing born global SMEs. Manufacturing born global SMEs are facing challenge of lack of government policy on born global SMEs, tax issues and reduced rebates, and shortage of skilled labor force.