Grab, OVO expand digital push to Pontianak through #KotaMasaDepan programme

In West Kalimantan’s capital city of Pontianak, the digital tide has officially arrived. The city became the 15th destination for #KotaMasaDepan (#CityoftheFuture), a national-scale digital acceleration programme backed by Grab Indonesia and OVO in partnership with Indonesia’s ministry of cooperatives and SMEs.

From May to August 2025, hundreds of local micro and small businesses will receive end-to-end support to digitise their operations - ranging from digital marketing training and product photography tips to halal certification and access to microloans.

“Digitalisation is no longer a choice, but a necessity,” said minister Maman Abdurrahman at the launch event. “It’s key to boosting SMEs’ competitiveness in today’s economy. With training and integration into digital ecosystems, we hope more of them can optimise marketplaces and grow their sales. Strengthening grassroots economies like this is critical - SMEs contribute over 60% of Indonesia’s GDP and absorb 97% of the workforce.”

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Since the programme’s inception in 2021, #KotaMasaDepan has reached more than 26,000 businesses across 15 cities, with support expanding beyond just tools - it’s also about access.

In Pontianak, the programme is tailored in collaboration with the city’s department of cooperatives and regional agencies, reflecting a decentralised approach to upskilling. On 23 May, a first batch of SMEs received online training, with offline mentoring and peer learning sessions rolling out in phases.

Local business owner Yaser Mas’UD Attamimi of Sers Pizza, a Grab merchant, shared how joining the programme unlocked a wider customer base. “I’m optimistic I can level up as an SME,” said Attamimi. “I learned how to take better product photos, received marketing tips, and even got data on best-selling items during peak hours. I feel more digitally literate - and more prepared to compete in this tough market.”

For Pontianak mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono, this push fits into a longer trajectory. “Since the pandemic, Pontianak has pivoted to digital - even our traditional markets. Our people are very digitally savvy now,” he said. “This year, we’re also building a free packaging centre to support new businesses. I believe this programme will improve SMEs’ product quality and capacity.”

That belief is not unfounded. According to 2024 data from West Kalimantan’s SME agency, Pontianak is home to over 4,000 registered small and micro businesses - most still in early stages of digital maturity. Infrastructural and mentorship support could tip the scale.

“Through #KotaMasaDepan, we want to provide tailored guidance so that small businesses can not just survive, but grow,” said Neneng Goenadi, country managing director of Grab Indonesia. “We see huge potential in cities like Pontianak. With access to technology, training, and the Grab ecosystem, they can absolutely level up.”

From 2020 to 2024, Grab claims to have generated 2.3 million job opportunities through SME digitalisation, with Gen Z entrepreneurs making up 20% of new merchant partners. Grab has also channelled over IDR 1 trillion (US$61 million) in microfinancing to over 25,000 businesses through its GrabModal Mantul and OVO’s Modal Usaha schemes.

Grab and OVO’s SME push is also aligned with Indonesia’s ambition to digitise 30 million small businesses. The #KotaMasaDepan programme is their flagship contribution, and it’s increasingly going beyond the metros - serving as a blueprint for public-private partnership at scale.

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