Bridging Villages and Retail Chains: A Pentahelix-Based Strategy for Strengthening Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes)–Modern Market Partnerships in Garut Regency

This study aims to formulate a strategy for strengthening partnerships between Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and modern markets to support the development of microenterprises through a Pentahelix-based incubation approach. The background of the research is rooted in the challenges faced by MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in Garut Regency, such as low product quality, limited access to modern markets, and weak institutional and promotional capacity. The Pentahelix model, which involves five key elements: government, academia, business actors, communities, and media, is promoted as a collaborative framework for building a competitive village business ecosystem. This research employs a qualitative method, which involves interviewing five informants from three villages in Garut Regency that have established distribution partnerships with modern market entities. The findings reveal that implementing formal agreements and MSME incubation programs through this model positively impact increasing turnover, obtaining quality certification, improving distribution efficiency, and enhancing business professionalism. The model also strengthens the strategic role of BUMDes as a link between village MSMEs and modern retail networks. These findings contribute theoretically to the literature on public service innovation and local economic empowerment, while also offering practical implications for local governments, business practitioners, and academics in supporting MSME transformation through cross-sector collaboration. The study recommends replicating this model in other regions with contextual adjustments and institutional strengthening to ensure program sustainability.