Pertamina supports SMEs in innovating to expand markets

PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to provide support to small, micro, and medium enterprise (SME) actors under its guidance to innovate in order to expand the markets for their products.

Vice President of Corporate Communication at Pertamina, Muhammad Baron, stated in Jakarta on Saturday that the company has mentored SMEs throughout Indonesia by providing platforms to broaden their markets through exhibitions, product displays, business meetings, and connections with other SME networks.

“SMEs are the backbone of the national economy. As a state-owned enterprise, Pertamina supports SME development so they can enhance their products, become better known to the public, and achieve independence, thereby contributing to regional economic progress,” he said.

Baron cited the Teras Balongan souvenir centre in Balongan, Indramayu, West Java, as an innovation by Pertamina to help local flagship SME products meet market demands.

“Its distinctive feature is indeed the shrimp paste flavour because we are in a coastal area,” said Mahani, Chair of Teras Balongan SMEs.

Several Teras Balongan SME products have also become souvenirs for Indonesian migrant workers when returning to their host countries for work.

“Our rengginang (crispy rice crackers) has even reached Australia. Some have gone to Taiwan and Hong Kong through friends working there,” Mahani added.

Currently, Teras Balongan has 22 SME members with a variety of flagship products.

“Pertamina consistently enhances SME capacity through various mentoring programmes, such as the SME Academy, which provides training for business development covering management to digital marketing,” Baron stated.