Small and Medium Enterprise Activity in Mining Regions Capitalises on Eid Momentum
Jakarta — Ramadan through Eid is consistently a season of opportunity for small and medium enterprise (SME) operators across Indonesia’s regions, particularly in mining areas. The surge in demand during this period drives increased interest in locally-inspired products whilst opening pathways for business operators to boost income, expand markets, and scale up operations.
For many SME operators, this momentum marks a milestone in their journey from small-scale enterprises to those reaching broader markets. One example is Hera (53) from Bangka Belitung, owner of the Mirrando brand, which produces syrup and jelly sweets made from key lime, a local speciality. Her business began in her home kitchen, utilising key lime that grows abundantly in her locality.
From these modest beginnings, she created a distinctive tangy-fresh flavoured product. However, the early path was challenging. Limited capital, minimal marketing reach and restricted market access posed significant obstacles. The situation improved after Hera became a mentee of PT Timah (Persero) Tbk. Through mentorship programmes, she gained access to revolving capital, financial management training, digital marketing instruction, and opportunities to participate in various product exhibitions. With this support, Hera’s business expanded rapidly.
She now employs more than a dozen workers involved in production, packaging and distribution. “Beforehand, I had to manage everything myself. Now, when orders surge ahead of Eid, we are far better prepared,” she said on Monday (9 March 2026).
Similar optimism comes from Rosi Fitriani, owner of SME FnR Craft, a mentee of PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk. Rosi transforms traditional South Sumatran textiles such as songket and jumputan into ethnic-inspired handbags with distinctive artistic design value.
In her business’s early stages, Rosi faced multiple constraints, from underdeveloped product design to limited marketing networks. Through PTBA mentorship, FnR Craft received various forms of support, including design curation, product quality standard improvement, and promotional exhibition participation. Over time, her ethnic handbag products gained broader recognition.
Today, FnR Craft products have penetrated international markets including Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Rosi frequently shares her experience and skills with other SME operators. “PTBA’s mentorship made us confident enough to enter corporate and overseas markets,” she said.
For MIND ID Group, Hera and Rosi’s journeys reflect how local economic ecosystems can flourish in mining regions throughout Indonesia. MIND ID’s Deputy Chief Executive Dany Amrul Ichdan emphasised that SME mentorship forms a critical component of efforts to create inclusive economic growth in these areas. MIND ID targets annual progress for mentees in both business capacity and revenue growth.
“We want to ensure our mentees not only run businesses but build sustainable business foundations,” Dany stated in a statement on Tuesday (10 March 2026).
When local wisdom is strengthened with production capacity, quality and market access, locally-sourced products transcend their status as local commodities. They can move up the value chain and become part of broader, even global networks. “This is where local economic empowerment becomes not merely a social programme, but a strategy for deepening national economic structures,” Dany affirmed.
Through various mentorship programmes, MIND ID Group provides support ranging from capital access, business mentoring, packaging and design curation, quality standard improvement, to digital marketing strategy strengthening. Additionally, MIND ID Group opens market channels through exhibitions, business-to-business (B2B) marketing channels, and curated product outlets.
This support enables mentee SMEs to better handle demand surges, including during Ramadan and Eid periods, through optimised production planning and distribution management. This momentum was also enhanced through the participation of 31 MIND ID mentee SMEs in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources SME Bazaar, held from 9 to 11 March 2026. Diverse products were showcased, ranging from regional specialty foods, handicrafts and textiles, herbal products, to local souvenirs.
For Hera and Rosi, this event represented an opportunity to expand market networks whilst introducing regional products to a broader customer base. “We learned to manage Eid orders more systematically. It feels proud when our regional products become gifts. These ethnic handbags aren’t just beautiful; they carry the story of South Sumatra,” Rosi said.
For MIND ID, the activity of SMEs in mining regions during the Eid momentum demonstrates that when business operator capacity is strengthened and market access is opened, value creation extends beyond industry alone, reaching into community life itself — from family kitchens to becoming gifts bearing local wisdom, national pride, and international recognition.