Starting from One Worker, This SME is Now Earning a Turnover of 1.6 Billion Per Year

Jakarta, February 28, 2021 - The Covid-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the economic sector, especially for small industries. PT Pertamina (Persero), through the Partnership Program, strives to continue to support its fostered SMEs so that they can get back up. Namely, with various SMEs programs, graduating and supporting so those small businesses can go global.

One of the small businesses fostered by Pertamina, who also received the impact, is Erwin Ariadi. The owner of Saqilla Design SME, which is engaged in fashion, has to rack his brains so that his business can continue to survive. "We thought how to help prevent the spread of the virus but my business can continue. Making masks is the solution," he said.

With his creativity, Erwin produces masks that follow health protocols and has an attractive appearance. Namely, a mask combined with a typical Palembang jumputan fabric motif. No doubt, the demand for cloth masks for their products is gradually increasing. "We once received orders for 10 thousand masks, and even up to 20 thousand pieces of cloth masks," he added. It made his business rise again and immediately became an upgraded MSMEs.

Some of his employees are now able to return to work. He said that currently, nine employees work as mask tailors. Erwin decides to cooperate with other tailors who happen to be vacant if there is too much demand.

It also brings a domino effect where he can save his own business and help others, a form of ESG implementation in the social sector and SDGs; point 8 is providing work and supporting economic growth.

Since joining Pertamina in 2018, he has experienced many changes. For example, there is now an additional employee who initially only have one person until the turnover increased to IDR 80 million per month. For marketing, Erwin relies on selling boutiques on Jalan Merdeka No. 3C Palembang and digital marketing through the website https://saqilla.business.site/.

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto added, Pertamina appreciated Erwin's creative steps. According to him, Pertamina will continue to support and foster these SMEs until they continue to advance in grade. "Pertamina will help so that this nation's cultural products can go international and be recognized by the world community, through exhibitions and efforts to sell abroad or export," he concluded.**