Capital Access and Mentoring Key to Micro-Business Sustainability

Access to financing and mentoring for the ultra-micro sector is being continuously strengthened to promote economic independence among lower-income communities, especially underprivileged women. The integration of the financing ecosystem in recent years has proven effective in expanding service reach while providing more structured business mentoring for small entrepreneurs. A key initiative was the formation of the Ultra Micro Holding (UMi) in 2021, which combines BRI, Pegadaian, and PNM, marking a significant step in strengthening access to financing for the public. PNM Finance Director Sahat Pangaribuan stated that the Ultra Micro Holding has delivered tangible impacts for customers. “This integration makes services more accessible and comprehensive, so customers not only receive financing but also mentoring and opportunities to grow. We see customers becoming more ready to graduate to the next level, more financially independent, and having greater opportunities to develop their businesses to the next stage,” Sahat said in a statement. Through this collaboration, PNM is further reinforcing its role in empowering underprivileged women via the PNM Mekaar programme. The programme not only reaches more customers but also provides more integrated mentoring. Over the past five years, through the integrated ecosystem, customers now experience a simpler financing application process, broader access to financial services through various channels, and a more complete range of products tailored to business needs. Furthermore, business mentoring support has become more structured, ensuring customers are not left to fend for themselves but are accompanied within a connected ecosystem. This positive impact is also reflected in the increased readiness of customers to graduate. Through various empowerment programmes, customers are encouraged to develop savings habits, gain financial literacy, and access non-loan products such as gold savings and micro-insurance. Additionally, access to marketplaces and business capacity building helps customers develop their businesses more sustainably. As business capabilities and financial discipline improve, customers who are ready also gain opportunities to access larger financing, allowing their business journey to continue growing. In numerical terms, since the start of integration, the number of Mekaar customers who have graduated has increased significantly from 329,532 in 2022 to 2,579,407 in 2025, reflecting the strengthening of customer business capacity and financial capability. Meanwhile, the number of customers becoming BRILink Agents also grew from 69,016 in 2022 to 186,477 in 2025, in line with a focus on quality and transaction activity. Overall, the Ultra Micro Holding not only expands access but also encourages customers to grow more independently and play an active role in a more inclusive financial ecosystem.