Pertamina Cultivates SME Champions Through PAG Programme

PT Pertamina (Persero), through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Small Medium Enterprise Partnership Program (SMEPP) functions, has named ten Champion SMEs recognised for superior business performance, measurable social impact, and readiness to compete in the global market via the Pertapreneur Aggregator (PAG) 2025-2026 programme. Pertapreneur Aggregator is an SME development programme designed to cultivate business actors as aggregators—ecosystem drivers capable of opening market access, building collaborations, and empowering other SMEs to grow and advance together. The programme selected 100 top SMEs from 730 participants of the UMK Academy 2025 who passed the national stage across various regions in Indonesia. Through a process of screening, deep dive interviews, bootcamps, mentoring, business acceleration, field visits, and Objective Key Results (OKR) monitoring, Pertamina selected 10 Champions deemed to have the best business capacity, impact, and development potential. Vice President of CSR & SMEPP Management at PT Pertamina (Persero), Rudi Afrianto, stated that Pertapreneur Aggregator represents Pertamina’s commitment to strengthening the grassroots economy through innovative, sustainable, and high-impact SMEs. ‘We want to produce SMEs that not only grow in business terms but also become drivers that empower other SMEs and create greater benefits for society,’ he said. Throughout the programme, participants received guidance on business strategy, marketing, finance, ESG, digitalisation, and market expansion. All Champions also obtained business acceleration certification, assessor mentoring, and an Objective Key Results monitoring dashboard to support measurable business growth. In terms of impact, the programme recorded an average Social Return on Investment (SROI) of 2.21, meaning every Rp1 invested generates Rp2.21 in social, economic, and environmental benefits. To support business sustainability, Pertamina also distributed production facility grants worth Rp495 million, comprising Rp345 million for the 10 Champions and Rp150 million for 20 semi-finalist SMEs. Furthermore, Pertamina facilitated international market access through market insights and business matching with the Indonesian Trade Attachés in Malaysia and Brussels, Belgium. This step strengthens participants’ readiness to expand business networks and explore export opportunities to global markets. Vice President of Corporate Communication at PT Pertamina (Persero), Muhamad Baron, added that Pertapreneur Aggregator is part of Pertamina’s commitment to creating shared value through its Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) programmes. ‘This programme is energy for the community. Pertamina not only helps SMEs increase their business capacity but also builds an entrepreneurial ecosystem capable of creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and generating sustainable impact,’ Baron said.