Jakarta \u2014 Ramadan through Eid is consistently a season of opportunity\nfor small and medium enterprise (SME) operators across Indonesia\u2019s\nregions, particularly in mining areas. The surge in demand during this\nperiod drives increased interest in locally-inspired products whilst\nopening pathways for business operators to boost income, expand markets,\nand scale up operations.<\/p>\n
For many SME operators, this momentum marks a milestone in their\njourney from small-scale enterprises to those reaching broader markets.\nOne example is Hera (53) from Bangka Belitung, owner of the Mirrando\nbrand, which produces syrup and jelly sweets made from key lime, a local\nspeciality. Her business began in her home kitchen, utilising key lime\nthat grows abundantly in her locality.<\/p>\n
From these modest beginnings, she created a distinctive tangy-fresh\nflavoured product. However, the early path was challenging. Limited\ncapital, minimal marketing reach and restricted market access posed\nsignificant obstacles. The situation improved after Hera became a mentee\nof PT Timah (Persero) Tbk. Through mentorship programmes, she gained\naccess to revolving capital, financial management training, digital\nmarketing instruction, and opportunities to participate in various\nproduct exhibitions. With this support, Hera\u2019s business expanded\nrapidly.<\/p>\n
She now employs more than a dozen workers involved in production,\npackaging and distribution. \u201cBeforehand, I had to manage everything\nmyself. Now, when orders surge ahead of Eid, we are far better\nprepared,\u201d she said on Monday (9 March 2026).<\/p>\n
Similar optimism comes from Rosi Fitriani, owner of SME FnR Craft, a\nmentee of PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk. Rosi transforms traditional South\nSumatran textiles such as songket and jumputan into ethnic-inspired\nhandbags with distinctive artistic design value.<\/p>\n
In her business\u2019s early stages, Rosi faced multiple constraints, from\nunderdeveloped product design to limited marketing networks. Through\nPTBA mentorship, FnR Craft received various forms of support, including\ndesign curation, product quality standard improvement, and promotional\nexhibition participation. Over time, her ethnic handbag products gained\nbroader recognition.<\/p>\n
Today, FnR Craft products have penetrated international markets\nincluding Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Rosi frequently shares her\nexperience and skills with other SME operators. \u201cPTBA\u2019s mentorship made\nus confident enough to enter corporate and overseas markets,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>\n
For MIND ID Group, Hera and Rosi\u2019s journeys reflect how local\neconomic ecosystems can flourish in mining regions throughout Indonesia.\nMIND ID\u2019s Deputy Chief Executive Dany Amrul Ichdan emphasised that SME\nmentorship forms a critical component of efforts to create inclusive\neconomic growth in these areas. MIND ID targets annual progress for\nmentees in both business capacity and revenue growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to ensure our mentees not only run businesses but build\nsustainable business foundations,\u201d Dany stated in a statement on Tuesday\n(10 March 2026).<\/p>\n
When local wisdom is strengthened with production capacity, quality\nand market access, locally-sourced products transcend their status as\nlocal commodities. They can move up the value chain and become part of\nbroader, even global networks. \u201cThis is where local economic empowerment\nbecomes not merely a social programme, but a strategy for deepening\nnational economic structures,\u201d Dany affirmed.<\/p>\n
Through various mentorship programmes, MIND ID Group provides support\nranging from capital access, business mentoring, packaging and design\ncuration, quality standard improvement, to digital marketing strategy\nstrengthening. Additionally, MIND ID Group opens market channels through\nexhibitions, business-to-business (B2B) marketing channels, and curated\nproduct outlets.<\/p>\n
This support enables mentee SMEs to better handle demand surges,\nincluding during Ramadan and Eid periods, through optimised production\nplanning and distribution management. This momentum was also enhanced\nthrough the participation of 31 MIND ID mentee SMEs in the Ministry of\nEnergy and Mineral Resources SME Bazaar, held from 9 to 11 March 2026.\nDiverse products were showcased, ranging from regional specialty foods,\nhandicrafts and textiles, herbal products, to local souvenirs.<\/p>\n
For Hera and Rosi, this event represented an opportunity to expand\nmarket networks whilst introducing regional products to a broader\ncustomer base. \u201cWe learned to manage Eid orders more systematically. It\nfeels proud when our regional products become gifts. These ethnic\nhandbags aren\u2019t just beautiful; they carry the story of South Sumatra,\u201d\nRosi said.<\/p>\n
For MIND ID, the activity of SMEs in mining regions during the Eid\nmomentum demonstrates that when business operator capacity is\nstrengthened and market access is opened, value creation extends beyond\nindustry alone, reaching into community life itself \u2014 from family\nkitchens to becoming gifts bearing local wisdom, national pride, and\ninternational recognition.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/small-and-medium-enterprise-activity-in-mining-regions-capitalises-on-eid-momentum-1773125767", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }