The certification event was held concurrently with the 3,000th container from Bayer Indonesia exported to Europe as the company achieved an export value of Rp 3.9 trillion.
On Wednesday, March 26, PT Bayer Indonesia celebrated Bayer’s 3,000th shipment to Europe and the handover of 9 Training of Trainers certificates by EKONID to the in-company trainers at Bayer, Cimanggis plant in Depok, West Java.
The certification of these trainers was done in cooperation with EKONID, the official certification body representing the German Associations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). The certification was part of EKONID’s German Dual Vocational Education Training (GDVET) program. Bayer’s participation with GDVET further demonstrated the company’s commitment to support the Indonesian government's agenda to improve upon its workforce.
“Therefore, Bayer has become a certified institution in Indonesia to conduct mechatronic vocational training with German standard,” said Mr. Angel Michael Evangelista, the President Director of PT Bayer Indonesia.
Aside from Mr. Evangelista, also present at the certification were the Indonesian Minister of Industry Mr. Airlangga Hartarto; Deputy Minister for Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship, and Cooperative & SMEs Competitiveness at the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Mr. Mohammad Rudy Salahuddin Ramto; Director General of Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Textile at the Indonesian Ministry of Industry Mr. Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono; Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Indonesia, Mr. Peter Schoof; Managing Director of EKONID Mr. Jan Rönnfeld, and Senior Bayer Representative to ASEAN, Mr. Ernst Coppens.
As of the moment of writing, a total of 15 SMK 56 students in North Jakarta have been attending the mechatronic training at the Bayer factory in Cimanggis. The training would last for three years with a composition of 35% theory in school and 65% practice in Bayer’s factory.
In his remarks, Managing Director of EKONID Mr. Rönnfeld thanked Bayer and the Indonesian government for their cooperation in the vocational training program, further highlighting the advantages gained by all stakeholders.
“The advantage for Bayer is that they have influenced on the program and the students as potential employees... the advantage for the school, in this case SMK 56, is to have the cooperation and the feedback of the industry regarding their curriculum... The government, on the other hand, could invest more on other sectors as it is the companies that are providing the education equipment. So it’s a truly win-win situation for everybody,” he said.
3.000th container to Europe
Concurrent to the certification event, PT Bayer Indonesia also inaugurated its 3,000th container released to be exported to Europe. Over the past few years, Bayer has exported various healthcare products from its Cimanggis plant with a total value of Rp 3.9 trillion (roughly US$274 million).
“Bayer Indonesia has always been committed to take part in Indonesia's economic development. The steps we are taking are in line with the government's efforts to reduce the current account deficit. We are producing health products in our Cimanggis factory in Depok. 80% of the total production of the factory has been exported to more than 32 countries around the world,” said Mr. Evangelista.
Senior Bayer Representative to ASEAN Mr. Ernst Coppens added, “Bayer has invested 100 million euros [Rp 1.6 trillion] to build Cimanggis factory with modern facility and now the factory can produce healthcare products with world quality standards. Bayer’s healthcare factory in Cimanggis is the only Bayer’s healthcare factory in ASEAN and the biggest factory with significant export value in Asia Pacific. It is also one of 12 Bayer production centers throughout the world.”
In addition to the factory in Cimanggis, Bayer Indonesia also operates two other factories in Indonesia which produces agro-chemicals. They are the Surabaya factory, with as much as 30% of the production exported to 10 countries, and the factory in Tangerang that exports 35% of its total production to four countries.
In his remarks, Indonesian Minister of Industry Mr. Airlangga Hartarto conveyed the Indonesian government’s appreciation to Bayer not only for its activities in exporting goods that are “Made in Indonesia”, but also in actively supporting the government’s agenda in improving its human capital.
“The Ministry of Industry has facilitated 800 companies and 2,600 vocational school in Indonesia. And I think today’s certification ceremony is one of the ‘lighthouses’ that represent the Indonesian and German link and match for vocational school lighthouse programs. We would like this to be successful and we are very proud that Bayer took the initiative to be in this program. And we would like to thank you Bayer for this,” the Minister said.