How Jakarta's Siomay and Dimsum SMEs Grew Through BRI's BUMN House

Siti Aisyah owns a micro, small, and medium enterprise (UMKM) in North Jakarta specialising in gluten-free siomay and dimsum. The business was established in 2022.

She explained how she built the venture during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our flagship product is gluten-free chicken siomay. The dimsum also uses gluten-free wrappers, and we have gluten-free cilok. We aim to make all products gluten-free in the future,” she said.

The production address is Jl Bendungan Melayu Selatan, Tugu Selatan, Koja, North Jakarta. Siti said Cheria Culinary began after she tried selling brownies and traditional cakes. “I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2011, but not in food – I was in baby fashion. Before the pandemic, offline sales were good, but online competition with distributors made it tough. Offline sales also declined, and online pricing was too competitive. In 2022, during the pandemic, I decided to pivot to products I could make myself,” she said.

She joined culinary training, initially focusing on cakes and pastries. “Selling baked goods wasn’t daily business – only at events. So I looked for foods people buy every day. That’s when I found gluten-free siomay, dimsum, and cilok, plus occasional cheese corn at events,” she added.

Siti is grateful for her current business, which gains customers through corporate events and bazaars. Her Instagram shows participation in events like Bakul Juara at North Jakarta’s Mayor’s Office. She markets via Instagram and WhatsApp Business, though her marketplace presence is less active.

Revenue averages £1,000-£1,500 (Rp 10-15 million) monthly, rising to £2,000-£3,000 (Rp 20-30 million) during major events.

Cheria Culinary joined BRI’s BUMN House in 2023. The programme incubates UMKMs through training, financial support, and market access. Siti learned about it through UMKM networks. “UMKMs have strong communities, so we share information. I joined several training programs, including BUMN House, through these networks,” she said.

She highlighted benefits: digital marketing and financial training, free product reviews, content creation for Instagram, and product displays at BUMN House galleries. “We’re also invited to BRI events through BUMN House. The support has been immense,” she said.

Starting from scratch, Siti credited BRI’s assistance for accelerating growth and enabling employment. “The training and facilities have greatly helped our business development. We’ve also received orders from BUMN House itself,” she added.

Ida Rahmayanti, a marketing staff member, said the programme helped her development. “I handle sales at canteens and bazaars. It’s very helpful for a beginner like me. Even with prior experience, each place has different dynamics. I’ve learned a lot about customer interaction and time management,” she said.

Jajang Rohmana, Coordinator of BUMN House Jakarta, said the initiative aims to increase UMKM visibility and expand markets through its programmes. “At BUMN House, entrepreneurs receive training to sharpen business skills, digital guidance, and access to financing and market networks,” he said. “The smiles of successful UMKMs energise us.”