Ciomy Factory Drives Local Economy and Empowers Garut Community

The presence of Ciomy Factory in Desa Mekargalih, Garut Regency, West Java, brings not only industrial activity but also economic and social impacts for surrounding communities. The company opens job opportunities, partners with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and runs various social programs for local residents. Since it began operations, Ciomy Factory has become part of the region’s economic movement. In addition to production activities, the company also provides opportunities for people to participate in a broader economic chain. Ciomy’s products, known with the tagline ‘Halal Traveling Companion’ have even been trusted as vendors for national companies such as PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), PT Citilink Indonesia, and PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni). This trust shows that the industry developing in the area can compete at the national level. One of the main contributions of the factory is the creation of jobs for local residents. More than 90 per cent of the workforce comes from the local Garut community, while around 30 per cent of them come from Desa Mekargalih and the surrounding area. ‘GIVE SPACE TO THE YOUNG GENERATION’ The company also provides substantial space for the younger generation to start a career in the industrial world. More than half of the employees are aged 19 to 23, most of whom are graduates of schools and universities in Garut. The existence of the factory is seen as giving opportunities for young people to work without having to leave their home region. Other economic impacts are felt by local MSMEs in the surrounding area. The company engages local business actors to meet operational needs, including provision of meals for employees. The ‘sharing pastries every Friday with mosques in the surrounding area’ programme also involves residents who run home businesses. In addition, the company purchases meals from local businesses for employees’ lunches. This collaboration opens new markets for small businesses and helps strengthen the household economies of the surrounding community. On the other hand, the company also strives to maintain environmental sustainability in its operations. Waste management is carried out in accordance with environmental regulatory standards, together with greening programmes as part of its sustainability commitments. The company also mitigates the use of agricultural land by purchasing paddy fields elsewhere as a replacement for land used for industrial activities. The land management involves the community so that they continue to derive economic benefits from agricultural activities. CSR PROGRAMMES: Beyond the economic and environmental aspects, the company actively runs various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. These include activities to prosper and clean mosques, monthly religious study sessions for local residents, and the distribution of staple foods to around 700 households in the surrounding area. The company also supports pesantren activities and humanitarian aid to Palestine. In promoting an inclusive working environment, the company also opens opportunities for people with disabilities who are involved in marketing activities and up to warehouse operations. Support for social development is also provided through assistance with educational and health facilities for the surrounding community. VISION OF USEFULNESS: The director of PT Amanah Persada Alam, which oversees the Ciomy brand, Purnama Alam, says the company aims to run its business with a vision of usefulness for society. ‘We hope this business can become a vehicle towards paradise. That is why we apply values of integrity and kindness to ensure we succeed well. Everything is done with compliance and continuous learning. If there is something not in line, we are always open to listening to every input,’ he said on Friday (6/3). He added that the success of an industry is not only measured by production or market expansion, but also by the positive impacts felt by the surrounding community. ‘Ultimately, the success of an industry is not only measured by production figures and expansion of products to international levels, but also by how much genuine benefit is felt by the people around it,’ he concluded. (E-2)