Giving Full Support to MSEs Go Global, Pertamina Gives Many Opportunities for Foster Partners to Participate in International Exhibitions

Jakarta, September 7, 2021 –  Pertamina's efforts to develop micro and small enterprises (UMK) programs are being realized through various interesting and informative activities to provide opportunities for Pertamina MSEs to participate in International Exhibitions.

Senior Supervisor CSR & SMEPP Pertamina Southern Sumatra (Sumbagsel), Agustina Mandayati, stated during a talk show with Sonora FM, entititled Supporting SMEs Ready to Export and Go Global, currently, the South Sumatra region has around fostered 7700 MSEs. They are spreading in over 5 provinces such as Lampung, Bengkulu, Jambi, Bangka Belitung and South Sumatra.

"Each region has different potential. In Lampung for example. We collaborate with Perindo to provide training and certification to 219 shrimp farmers so that agricultural products can have the best quality and compete in the market. Also, in South Sumatra Province, training is often held for songket weaving artisans," she explained.

It was confirmed by Naufal Muhammad, one of Pertamina's fostered partners, who own the Songket Ilham Bahari business. Since becoming a foster partner of Pertamina in 2019, Naufal has received a lot of intensive coaching related to efforts to upgrade and the opportunity to participate in exhibitions.

"One of them is Pertamina SMEXPO 2020, where I had the opportunity to meet potential buyers from abroad and global curators," he said.

In addition, Naufal continued, Pertamina also strongly supports their efforts to become a Go Global MSE. It is evident from the inclusion of the Songket Ilham Bahari product in the 2021 Dubai Expo activity. "There are many positive changes in my business after being mentored by Pertamina, starting from production capacity, turnover, also being assisted in the management of IPR and hopefully my business will go international," he concluded.

On the same occasion, Professional Economist and Indonesian Entrepreneur Budi Satria Isman said that the potential to export Indonesian products is quite significant. No exception for textile products. "Indonesian textile products are often used as raw materials for world fashion. The biggest destination countries including the US, UK, Germany, Panama, Italy, Canada, and so on," said Budi.

Budi stated, to facilitate their export efforts domestic MSEs must start paying attention to the quality of the products they make. It starts from the quality of raw materials, dyes, and the textile manufacturing process itself. Adapt the products to the standards that apply in the destination country and can be accepted globally.

According to Acting Senior Vice President Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, through the MSE Funding Program, Pertamina wants to provide energy that can drive the economy--energy that becomes fuels and energy that produce sustainable growth.

Pertamina also supports SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) achievement through implementing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)-based programs in all of its operational areas. It is part of the Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL to realize economic benefits in the community.**