Cinta Batik Semarang Develops Eco-Friendly Batik and Reaches International Markets Thanks to BRI's LinkUMKM

PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk continues to encourage Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to grow through business capacity strengthening and market expansion. One entrepreneur who has felt these benefits is Cinta Batik Semarang, a batik artisan from Semarang City that has been running its business since 2006 and now reaches customers from various regions in Indonesia to abroad. Owner Iin Windhi Indah Tjahjani revealed that her business began from batik training organised by the Semarang City Regional National Craft Council (Dekranasda) as part of a revitalisation of Semarang batik. Over time, Cinta Batik Semarang became known for its naturally dyed hand-drawn batik products, which are a mainstay because they use eco-friendly natural dyes at affordable prices. The journey to build the business did not start under ideal conditions. With initial capital of around Rp50,000 and very simple batik equipment, Iin began production with limited knowledge. Various failures in batik making did not dampen her spirit to keep learning. The lack of access to consult on batik techniques drove her to actively attend various exhibitions to seek inspiration while improving product quality. “Getting to know LinkUMKM from BRI’s Rumah BUMN was one of the reasons we joined, because there are many beneficial activities for the progress of our business,” said Iin. To support business operations, Cinta Batik Semarang also utilises QRIS and BRI savings. Currently, its products are marketed through various channels, from offline sales, marketplaces, exhibitions, to business-to-business (B2B) cooperation, with a customer reach spanning various regions in Indonesia to overseas. The batik collections are produced in limited quantities, giving them exclusive value for consumers. As of the end of March 2026, LinkUMKM has been utilised by more than 15.57 million MSMEs as an online business mentoring facility, covering capacity building, market expansion, and accelerating the upgrading process. LinkUMKM features six main integrated features, namely UMKM Smart, Rumah BUMN, Media, Community, Digital Showcase, Coaching Clinic, and other services including NIB registration, supported by more than 840 learning modules to strengthen the soft skills and hard skills of business actors.