Pertamina Hosts SMExpo Ramadan 1447 AH, Encouraging UMKM Growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina (Persero) hosted SMExpo Ramadan 1447 AH from 2–6 March 2026 in the Lobby Grha Pertamina Jakarta, as part of the company’s commitment to continue supporting the empowerment and development of micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM). In a press release in Jakarta on Wednesday, Pertamina’s VP CSR & SMEPP, Rudi Ariffianto, explained that at this event they are presenting 20 nurtured UMKM from sectors including fashion, food and beverage, and crafts, deemed to have potential for marketing during Ramadan. He said the exhibition is significant because the needs of people during Ramadan through Eid al-Fitr open up large opportunities for UMKM to present daily products or hampers.

‘With the exhibition, UMKM can secure sales, revenue increases, and their workers’ livelihoods are supported. This is part of the economic heartbeat they drive,’ said Rudi.

In addition to the themed exhibition, Rudi explained that Pertamina also runs the UMK Akademi as a major umbrella for sustainable SME development. The programme includes incubation and mentoring from the early stages until SMEs are able to grow. He added that Pertamina also facilitates halal certification, Household Industry Products (PIRT), the Indonesian Food and Drug Agency (BPOM), and export certification, and includes mentored UMKM in international exhibitions such as Korea, Dubai Expo and China Expo.

He outlined that Pertamina also runs the Pertapreneur Aggregator, where leading UMKM compete for intensive mentoring to grow into mid-sized to upper-middle enterprises. Selected UMKM are provided with production-support tools as needed, such as packaging machines and laptops.

‘The selection is tight, from tens of thousands of mentored UMKM; only around 750 pass the nurturing ecosystem, and are filtered down to the 10 best,’ said Rudi.

Vangelina, owner of MiMoms Cook from Depok, said she is grateful to be a Pertamina mentee so she can market her products at SMExpo Ramadan 1447 AH without having to worry about booth rental costs. She also receives licensing facilities and product certifications. ‘Alhamdulillah I have been facilitated to obtain halal certification and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), all from Pertamina,’ she said.

The same feeling was expressed by Hilda Pratya, owner of Midstory from Cibubur, focusing on frozen meatballs and homemade sausages. She said sales rose significantly during Ramadan by as much as 50 percent compared with normal days. ‘From business management, networking, and product expansion, things are much broader. We now have employees, whereas before it was just me and my husband,’ she said.