Had Only Become a Fostered Partner, Pertamina Accelerates the Shoe and Sandal Home Industry to become Upgraded MSMEs

Jakarta, February 14, 2021 - During the Covid-19 pandemic, Pertamina never stopped paying attention to their fostered MSMEs through the Partnership Program. Although not done face-to-face, coaching takes many forms, such as online training, virtual exhibitions, and programs that help them upgrade, such as the Pertamina UMKM Academy: Fast Track activity of 2020.

These various mentoring opportunities have been put to good use by Pertamina's MSMEs, Irma Sofia. The owner of the shoe and sandal home industry is still new to Pertamina. However, she got has received many benefits shortly after being mentored at that time.

"Joined in May 2020, September was selected and given the opportunity to take part in the Pertamina SMEXPO virtual exhibition. I am very happy to have the opportunity to meet foreign buyers too. Then not long in November, we were again given the opportunity to join Pertamina UMKM Academy," she said.

It was at the UMKM Academy event that her insight was more widely opened. Especially regarding how to export products because they are included in the Go Global class. Sofia admits that she is ready to export her products, especially after some of her products are bought by star hotels in Bogor. Its products have also been marketed in almost all regions across the country.

The decision to do business was taken after Sofia decided to quit her previous job at the Bank in 2015. With the help of 8 employees who are neighbors around her house in Pasir Eurih, Sirnagalih, Bogor Regency, she built her business to the size it is today. "Changes after being coached by Pertamina, previously the stock of goods was not too much. After that I can add a lot of product stock," she said.

Now, Sofia has started to make many product innovations. Apart from shoes and sandals, she also makes various kinds of women's bags, becoming popular. By utilizing social media @kndbagfashion and several market place, she promotes her products. Until now, Sofia has pocketed an income of up to IDR 200 million per month. "Before becoming Pertamina's guidance, there were still around IDR 150 million per month. So there is a significant increase," she concluded.

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto, added that Pertamina would support local products' development, as was done by Sofia. The MSMEs will continue to be developed with the Go Digital, Go Modern, Go Online, and Go Global coaching schemes. "We are optimistic that the fostered partners will be able to develop and upgrade. As well as implementing ESG in the social sector and SDGs point 8 by helping people around them and supporting economic growth," he concluded.**