Pertamina Fostered Partners Successfully Achieve Hundreds of Million Turnover Increase During the Pandemic

March 21, 2022 - PT Pertamina (Persero) through PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional West Java provides assistance for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) to keep innovating even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lina Monic, a woman born in 1967, founded PT Sinar Bersih Sukses Jaya with an Instagram @sinarClean in 2016. Pertamina assists with training, directed guidance, and providing promotion and market development facilities so that MSEs can grow and develop, especially in the pandemic.

PT Sinar Bersih Sukses Jaya, known as “Sinar Bersih” by its loyal customers, is a brand that sells quality and environmentally friendly cleaning fluid products. It was first launched in 2016, with its first products being lemongrass carbolic acid and insect repellent.

“When I started my business, I only sold lemongrass carbolic acid and insect repellent. But in early 2020, I expanded my product to hygiene and health products. Not only product innovation, but I also expanded my business by adding store openings for offline sales at the Podomoro market, Sunter. Unexpectedly, in March 2020, when the pandemic hists in Indonesia, the market demand soared, we ran out of stock because there were no raw materials." Lina said.

Lina saw an opportunity and increased her stock to sell online. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, her business turnover increased by almost 50%. Product innovation is not enough to satisfy Lina. She expanded the market by selling products to offices, hotels, workshops, shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and even hospitals, who made large purchases and became loyal customers.

Eko Kristiawan, Area Manager Communication, Relations & CSR of Pertamina Patra Niaga West Java Regional, said, "MSE activists must remain productive and continue to innovate, by shifting from conventional sales to online sales.This is the right step in during the pandemic."

Sinar Bersih is now also supplying several BUMN and Multinational companies in Indonesia with the Product Licences of Medical Devices and Household Health Supplies (PKRT). Those companies become loyal customers with large purchases. Now, the best-selling products are hand washing soap, dish soap, lemongrass carbolic acid, clothes detergent, disinfectant, clothes deodorizer, and hand sanitizer.” Lina said.

Sinar Bersih earned up to a 50% increase in turnover with an income of 500 million rupiahs per month. With so much competition out there, Lina admits that online sales alone are not enough. “Currently, my marketing strategy is not only in online stores, offline stores, and marketplaces. Currently, I am also building a 'Mobile Unit' which will soon be launched. We will use the Mobile Unit to visit houses so that we can sell cleaning fluid refills, and buyers can bring their own containers and come to our Mobile Unit.”

Lina as the owner of Sinar Bersih also plans to innovate skincare products made from premium ingredients using swallow nests,cultivated in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. With the Pertamina Fostered Partner program, Lina hopes that her business can develop under Pertamina's guidance, both in terms of the market and its promotional media.

Furthermore, Eko explained, it is not easy for MSE business players to get past the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. I am also proud that one of the MSEs from Pertamina's fostered partners earned a higher turnover during the pandemic and did not stop innovating and expanding. Pertamina is ready to support MSEs to increase competitiveness and make innovations in developing their business. Therefore, the fostered partners will not only survive during the pandemic but can develop and increase their sales.

This program also aims to implement point 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely decent work and economic growth. In addition to the SDGs, Pertamina also seeks to implement Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) in the social sector. Pertamina believes that it can generate economic benefits in the community according to its environmental and social responsibilities.

To join Pertamina's fostered partners requirements can be seen on the following page https://www.pertamina.com/id/program-kemitraan. **