Mekaar Programme Clients' Incomes Rise, Millions of Ultra-Micro Enterprises Upgrade

The empowerment programme for ultra-micro business actors is reportedly beginning to have an impact on improving community welfare. Research in 2025 shows that the income of clients of the Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera (Mekaar) programme has increased, accompanied by a growing ability to develop businesses and a rise in the number of clients successfully accessing formal financial services.

According to research by the Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM), the average net income of PNM Mekaar clients increased by Rp875,738 per month. Meanwhile, the business development capability index rose by 28.73 percent, moving from a low to a medium category.

The LPEM study also noted that the economic impact of the programme drove an increase in household consumption of up to Rp7.13 trillion in 2025. Additionally, 2.35 million clients were recorded as having successfully graduated to higher-level formal financial services.

PNM President Director Kindaris stated that the company has now served 23.3 million clients, the majority of whom are women running ultra-micro businesses from underprivileged communities who previously had limited access to finance.

“The PNM Mekaar programme continues to have a direct impact on millions of women ultra-micro entrepreneurs in Indonesia. Our presence is not only about opening access to capital, but also about building self-confidence for clients to continue developing their businesses and improving their families’ economic conditions,” Kindaris said in Jakarta, Tuesday (30/6/2026).

Kindaris explained that the increase in clients’ business capacity stems not only from access to financing but also from continuous mentoring. He noted that PNM complements its financing with various empowerment programmes, such as training, financial literacy, business literacy, and capacity building. This approach, he said, differentiates PNM from other financing institutions.