Empowering Dozens of Housewives, Orders for Cookies Owned by Pertamina's Fostered Partners Increase Drastically During Ramadan

Jakarta, May 1, 2021 - The moment of Ramadan until Eid al-Fitr is often eagerly awaited by some micro and small entrepreneurs (MSEs). Especially those engaged in the culinary sector, especially cookies. PT Pertamina (Persero), through the Partnership Program, will help the fostered partners to be able to fulfill these multi-fold orders.

It is what Pertiwi is now feeling. UD Barokah business owner, which is located at Jalan Democracy Ujung Lk II, Kel. Sumber Jaya, Kec. Siantar Martoba, Kota Pematang Siantar, is currently struggling with orders for cookies that have already arrived. "Orders continue to flow and hopefully they can be fulfilled entirely," she said.

Luckily, in 2020, Pertiwi decided to join Pertamina as a fostered partner. She used the business capital and coaching as a provision to welcome this year's Eid season, starting from adding production equipment to improving the appearance and packaging.

Since the beginning of Ramadan, her home bakery industry has received orders of up to hundreds of jars. As a result, the production capacity, which generally amounts to 400 kg per month, has now more than doubled to nearly 1 ton of production materials needed.

Pertiwi also needs a large number of workers. She empowers 15 housewives to help with her work. Sometimes there is a need for additional workers if there is a huge order. This effort is implementing the 8th Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs), which is to provide decent work and support economic growth.

The price set by Pertiwi for its cookies ranges from IDR 20 thousand to IDR 150 thousand for one package of cookie hampers. Income has also increased sharply at this time, which was initially around IDR 20 million/month, now it can grow more than two times to IDR 50 million. For marketing, Pertiwi relies on Instagram social media at @dapurcollage and Facebook Dapur Collage Siantar.

Acting Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, added that Pertamina would continue to support home industry-based businesses such as Pertiwi. "Through several existing coaching programs, Pertamina will encourage these small entrepreneurs to become an upgraded MSEs," she said.

According to Fajriyah, through the Partnership Program, Pertamina wants to present the energy that drives the economy--energy that becomes fuel and energy that generates sustainable growth.

Pertamina always supports the achievement of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) by implementing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) based programs in all of its operational areas. It is part of the environmental and social responsibility to realize economic benefits in the community.**