Encouraging MSMEs to Upgrade, Pertamina Holds MSMEs Pilot Project Assistance Upgrading

Jakarta, July 27, 2020 - In the effort to encourage Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to be upgraded and highly competitive after going through the COVID-19 challenge, Pertamina has prepared funds of Rp. 100 billion to be distributed to 1,000 fostered MSMEs through the MSMEs Pilot Project Assistance Upgrading.

As an initial step, the recruitment process includes surveys, verification, and assessment by selecting potential Fostered Partners to channel program funds in stages. For the recruitment phase, it starts in the provinces of DKI Jakarta, Banten, and West Java, with a submission value of Rp2.39 billion from 24 Prospective Partners.

These potential MSMEs come from various sectors, especially MSMEs whose business increased during the COVID-19 period, such as the business of food and packaged beverages industries as well as personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers, and fabric masks.

"Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Pertamina prepared a solution for MSMEs to remain empowered through the MSMEs Pilot Project Assistance Upgrading through Pertamina Partnership Program. It is through the distribution of business loans as well as MSMEs coaching so that they could recover from the current difficult economic conditions," said the Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman.

Fajriyah added that efforts to empower MSME by Pertamina is by providing business capital and coaching, especially in the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic. It could be a solution for MSMEs to be able to rise.

For the coaching of MSMEs, Fajriyah added, Pertamina provided entrepreneurship training, opening market access, certification and licensing as well as an entrepreneurial capacity building program by coaching and mentoring with various business practitioners.

"During coaching, Pertamina cooperated with competent small business development service institutions to produce upgraded MSMEs," concluded Fajriyah.

The Target of the MSMEs Pilot Project Assistance Program Upgrading through Pertamina Partnership Program is given to multisectoral MSMEs covering industry, agriculture, plantation, and trade in several points in Indonesia, namely the provinces of Riau, North Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten, East Java, Bali, NTB, and West Kalimantan.**