Mekaar Customers Go on Free Study Tours, PNM Paves the Way for Ultra-Micro Business Innovation
For many ultra micro businesses, limitations are not only about capital, but also access to knowledge and inspiration to develop their enterprises. This is where PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (Persero), or PNM, is bringing change.
Through a sustainable empowerment approach, PNM is helping customers enrolled in the Mekaar programme open new perspectives on the potential of their businesses.
Starting from the belief that improving business capacity is the foundation of prosperity, PNM invited group leaders of PNM Mekaar customers to take part in a Reward Study Tour.
There, participants learned how simple commodities can become various value-added products. One example was a study tour in Solo that taught how to process cassava into slondok and gemblong.
The hands-on learning experience opened space for new ideas that can be applied in each participant’s own business. The programme is proof that empowerment does not stop at loan disbursement.
PNM is creating change by broadening the horizons of ultra micro women entrepreneurs so they can see opportunities in their surroundings, improve product quality, and strengthen business competitiveness.
The approach also encourages the growth of self-confidence to keep developing and create greater economic value for their families.
PNM President Director Kindaris said direct learning experiences are one of the most effective ways to build business capacity that starts from a household kitchen.
According to him, under the auspices of Danantara, PNM continues to strengthen services that not only provide access to financing, but also offer opportunities to learn from best practices.
“We want every experience gained by customers to be translated and taught back to their group members, becoming business innovations that have an impact on increasing income and family economic resilience,” he said.
The impact is already being felt by participants. Dyah Wulandari said she now has more ideas to develop her business after seeing first-hand the process of turning cassava into products with higher selling value.
“I’m happy. Now I know that raw materials around us can be processed into more attractive products. I can’t wait to try new things and develop my business,” she said.
Besides enriching business insight, the activity also strengthened collaboration among participants through various group activities. For PNM, change is not only measured by increased knowledge, but also by the growth of networks, self-confidence, and the courage of ultra micro women to keep innovating.
Through various empowerment programmes, PNM continues to demonstrate that it creates meaningful impact and delivers sustainable change.
By combining financing and business capacity development, PNM not only helps customers run their businesses today, but also builds a foundation so they can move up a level, be more adaptive to change, and become more competitive in strengthening the economy of families and communities.