Implementing Digital Marketing, Pertamina's Fostered Partner Fruit and Vegetable Chips Products Successfully Entered the United States Market

Jakarta, May 2, 2021 - PT Pertamina (Persero), through the Partnership Program's business capital assistance, has succeeded in fostering micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to become resilient entrepreneurs amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The coaching provided has made many MSEs upgrade by experiencing increased turnover, expanding marketing, and other business developments.

It is felt by Hari Mastutik. Pertamina's fostered partners who own the CV. Arjuna 999 has experienced many developments after becoming Pertamina's partner. The story of the vegetable, fruit, and peanut brittle-making business has impressed many people.

"I started a business shortly after my husband died in 2011. I still have to raise three kids. So I casually made peanut brittle and began to think about selling it," said Mastutik. She entrusts her products to several souvenir shops around her house in Batu City, East Java. However, this method did not match her expectations because many shops did not accept the product.

Not being discouraged, Mastutik was assisted by her son to market her products through social media. Then, after a few weeks, she got a call from a Hong Kong buyer. "I was shocked. I thought it was a prankster, it was not. The Indonesian citizen who owns Indonesian gift shop in Hong Kong gave an amount of money according to the order to be sent there," she recalled.

Finally, Mastutik began to pursue the business seriously. She asked for assistance from housewives around her house.. Now, there are 15 workers that she empowers. In addition, Mastutik also empowers local farmers by absorbing their products directly.

Thanks to her commitment and persistence in doing business, the marketing reach of more than 50 types of chips expanded. Apart from domestic and Hong Kong, the products have penetrated almost all ASEAN countries. Recently the chips have managed to penetrate the US market.

Thanks to capital assistance and guidance from Pertamina, its production capacity has also increased sharply. Initially, 300 thousand pcs/month, now it is 500 thousand pcs each month. This great product generates a sizeable profit, reaching IDR 70 million every month.

Acting Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, added that Pertamina appreciates sociopreneur-based businesses such as what Mastutik does. "These chips are one of Indonesia's special culinary delights. It will be a great honor if they are successfully exported abroad. Pertamina will continue to support this effort," 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 our environmental and social responsibility to realize economic benefits in the community.**