Indonesia's Bukalapak keeps faith in offline sales despite COVID

CEO of e-commerce unicorn says mom and pop kiosks key to growth

Vegetable vendor Endih checks a mobile phone to look at a customer's shopping list at a traditional market in Jakarta, Indonesia. Leading e-commerce platforms Bukalapak is expanding its mom and pop kiosk business. © Reuters

SHOTARO TANI, Nikkei staff writer

July 20, 2020 12:03 JST

JAKARTA -- E-commerce has been one of the few industries able to weather the coronavirus pandemic, as people stayed home and ordered more things online.

Despite that and with COVID-19 still wreaking havoc across the country, Bukalapak -- one of Indonesia's leading e-commerce platforms -- is sticking to its strategy of expanding its mom and pop kiosk business, according to CEO Rachmat Kaimuddin.