From Waste to Livelihood: PNM Mekaar Customers Develop Businesses Through BRI Ultra Micro Synergy

In the midst of economic challenges faced by ultra-micro business actors, women are also taking roles in developing businesses and creating opportunities. Through the synergy of the Ultra Micro Holding, consisting of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI), PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM), and PT Pegadaian, efforts in mentoring and expanding access to financial services continue to be strengthened to encourage society to develop business potential sustainably. This story is reflected in the journey of Onih Suryati, a PNM Mekaar customer as well as a BRILink Agent in West Bandung Regency. Since 2022, she has developed an agriculture and livestock-based business focusing on worm cultivation and the production of vermicompost (worm castings). Onih explained that her business started from waste problems. Through training facilitated by PNM, the waste began to be processed into economically valuable products. “Initially, cow dung became waste that polluted the environment. Then, through training from PNM, the waste was utilised as worm feed, and the vermicompost was used for agriculture,” she stated. Over time, the utilisation of this waste developed into an integrated business system. Livestock waste is processed through a biogas installation, then used as worm feed to produce organic fertiliser for agriculture. Support in the form of a greenhouse grant from PNM has further strengthened business development while supporting family food security. The business growth also opened a new role for Onih as a BRILink Agent serving various transaction needs of the surrounding community, while providing additional income for her. “After having the biogas, I no longer buy LPG gas. The proceeds from selling worms and vermicompost can help ease daily needs, including school fees for the children,” she said. BRI Corporate Secretary Dhanny stated that the story of Onih Suryati as a PNM Mekaar customer and BRILink Agent in West Bandung Regency reflects the role of the Ultra Micro Holding synergy in strengthening business capacity sustainably, especially for women business actors. The presence of the ultra-micro ecosystem brings empowerment focused on business mentoring and connectivity with formal financial services. “This approach encourages business actors, particularly women, to develop their businesses more productively while creating new economic value that directly impacts the surrounding environment,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (7/4/2026). Through its subsidiary, PNM presents the PNM Mekaar (Nurturing Prosperous Family Economy) programme as an empowerment solution for underprivileged women who do not yet have access to formal financial services (unbankable), through the provision of collateral-free capital access and sustainable business mentoring. Within the BRI Group Ultra Micro Holding ecosystem, this programme also shows real impacts. Throughout 2025, 1.4 million PNM debtors upgraded their status, reflecting increased business capacity and expanded access to formal finance for ultra-micro business actors.