Pertamina's Fostered Partner Commits to Create High-Quality Cheese, Learning in America to Reach Billions of Turnover per Year

Jakarta, April 2, 2021 - PT Pertamina (Persero)'s commitment to support micro and small enterprises (MSE) through the Partnership Program is manifested in various MSE upgrading initiatives. It aims to grow small businesses until they reach the goals of MSEs Go Global. One approach is by introducing original Indonesian products to be marketed abroad.

Ni Made Sri Hartati is pursuing this mission. One of Pertamina's fostered partners, the owner of the PT Pasti Enak business located on Jalan Rama Semarapura, Klungkung Bali. Sri Hartati's dream is to be able to make and provide high-quality international standard cheese in Indonesia. How?

"In 2010, my husband and I decided to sell everything we had to go to the United States to study cheese making and Affinage (the art of cheese aging) from a professional cheesemaker and university lecturers," she said. Five years later, in 2015, Sri Hartati decided to return to Indonesia to apply her knowledge.

During the first year, she spent on building facilities, licensing, and creating teams. Sri Hartati used modern equipment to make a cave for ripening cheese (a place to store cheese for a long time). Of course, all the raw materials used are locally produced. "I am impressed and proud because Indonesia can produce high-quality milk as raw material for cheese," he added.

Apart from offering cheese products with European standards, continued Sri Hartati, she is also currently developing recipes to create authentic Indonesian cheeses. The cheese will be made by Indonesian using local milk and has a distinctive taste that cannot be found in other types of cheese in Indonesia. "We want to be able to bring the name of the nation as one of the unique cheese creators in the world," she said.

The production location on the island of the Gods, Bali, also benefits its marketing. A large number of foreign tourists makes its products quickly recognized by foreign tourists. Their products are sold online, at retail, and in several Horeka (hotels, restaurants, and cafes). The turnover obtained from this business is quite intriguing, which is around IDR 125 million per month.

Since becoming Pertamina's fostered partner in 2020, sales of its cheese products have become more effective. It is because the business can optimize the utilization of its production machines more efficiently. So that it affects the quality and the products produced and the stock is abundant.

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto, appreciated Sri Hartati's business. According to him, local cheeses with international quality can bring the good name of Indonesia. "The Partnership Program will continue to accompany the Pasti Enak business so that it can continue to grow. Therefore, it can become a Go Global MSE and penetrate the export market," he said.

According to Agus, through this Partnership Program, Pertamina wants to provide energy that drives the economy. To become energy that becomes fuel, as well as the energy that generates sustainable growth. It is also implementing the 8th goal of SDGs, to provide work and support economic growth.

Apart from SDGs, Pertamina also tries to implement ESG in the social sector. ESG or Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Management is the company's step in running its business that focuses on long-term business sustainability. In this way, Pertamina is confident that it can generate economic benefits in the community following environmental and social responsibilities.**