Pertamina's Fostered Partners Support the Implementation of SDGs and ESG by Preserving Kebaya as the Pride of Indonesian Women's Identity

Jakarta, April 22, 2021 - Indonesia has many national fashion identities in every region. These clothes become an identity that represents the strength of social construction that can unite social issues, whether it gender, race, ethnicity, and ideology. Through the Partnership Program, PT Pertamina (Persero) has assisted many fostered partners who are engaged in this sector to become an upgraded MSE.

One of them is Ni Made Lemini. Pertamina's fostered partner who owns the UD Suka Wirya business is engaged in fashion, especially embroidered kebaya with the brand name Maheswary Collections. "Kebaya is one of the pride identities of Indonesian women as a national dress, which has continously progress," she said.

The business that is based in Jalan Raya Padang Luwih No. 200 Dalung, North Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali was founded in 2013. The distinctive feature of the kebaya that Lemini makes is up-to-date but simple kebaya. "Because the design is more up to date and trendy, the younger generation is willing and happy to wear kebaya," she added.

Since becoming Pertamina's fostered partner in 2020, Lemini has further honed her skills and creativity in producing and marketing her kebaya. Several coaching programs provided by Pertamina are also directly implemented by her. "Lots of training has been given, starting from the production stages, packaging, to marketing," she said.

One thing that is enough to help her rise from the Covid-19 pandemic crisis is digital marketing. Initially, Lemini only relied on offline stores. Now, she is expanding her market to several digital media. Like social media, websites, to marketplaces. Slowly but surely, this method is effective in increasing marketing results.

Apart from kebaya, Lemini also produces several supporting accessories such as hairpins, brooches, and handbags. Everything is priced quite affordable, starting from IDR 20 thousand to hundreds of thousands of rupiah. The turnover she gets per month reaches IDR 15 million. Behind Lemini's business, several great women help her business. In total, she gave six housewives the task of sewing and embroidery.

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto, added that Pertamina would continue to support local cultural products to make it more global. "We must protect all of this by preserving craftsmen and MSEs engaged in this field. In order to continue to develop and be able to advance to the global stage," he said.

According to Agus, through the Partnership Program, Pertamina wants to provide the energy that drives the economy--energy that becomes fuel and energy that generates sustainable growth. It is also implementing the 8th goal of SDGs, which is to provide decent work and support economic 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.**