Supporting MSEs to Upgrading, Pertamina Selects 24 Fostered Partners to Participate in Halal Certification Assistance

Jakarta, March 14, 2021 - PT Pertamina (Persero) is committed to helping MSEs upgrade through the Partnership Program. One of them was manifested in the Halal Certification Assistance Activities for MSEs Fostered by Pertamina, held on Monday (8/3). This activity was attended by 24 selected fostered partners who will undergo the halal certification process.

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto, said that the halal certification assistance participants were alumni of the Pertamina UMKM Academy program which was held at the end of 2020. "They are strictly curated and selected MSEs who are feasible and ready to be included in this halal certification," he said.

Agus explained, there are several stages that the foster partners must go through before they are declared eligible to receive halal certification. Starting from halal supervisor training, mentoring, Cerol LPPOM & BPJPH registration, LPOM Gap Assessment, auditing process, only if it passes halal Istibat certificates will be issued. "The entire process is targeted to be completed within two months," he added.

If a business already holds a halal certificate, according to Agus, MSEs will get many benefits. "Quoting from the statement of the Vice President, Mr. Ma'ruf Amin, that halal certification is relatively acceptable in many countries," added Agus. Therefore, it can be used as capital for MSE products to Go Global and increase export capacity abroad.

Another advantage that can be obtained is primarily for the domestic market. The majority of Indonesians who are Muslim will make products labeled as halal more trustworthy. And it tends to be easier to enter the market and big supermarkets if it is balanced with strict quality control.

In the process, the 24 MSEs were divided into four groups with 6 MSEs each. Therefore, mentoring can be more effective and focused. Agus hopes that all MSEs will be able to complete this program well and get a halal certificate. "After this, Pertamina will target more MSEs to obtain certificates or other permits so that MSEs can progressively upgrade," he concluded.

One of the participants who took part in the Opening of the Halal Certification Assistance Activities for MSE Fostered by Pertamina was Saiful Abdullah. The owner of Alam Hijau Sejahtera MSE, which produces various processed chocolates, has made the halal certification. "However, due to system changes, I had a hard time. It fitted that Pertamina held this event. I am very grateful to Pertamina," he said.

Apart from that, there is also Maharani. The owner of Lendang Bagek Agrotourism produces agarwood oil as a base for perfume. The primary market, which is the majority of countries in the Middle East, makes Maharani feel that she must have a halal certificate to launch her business. "Hopefully, after this, my marketing to the Middle East will increase. Thank you, Pertamina," she said.

The event, which was held virtually, was attended by several related representatives. From Pertamina, attended by SMEPP Manager Rudi Ariffianto; Prof. Dr. Irwandi Jaswir, Head of the Halal Certification Program; Ni Putu Desinthya, Head of the Sharia Economic Development and Halal Industry Division of KNEKS; and Banu Muhammad, Deputy Chairperson of the PAII Productive Waqf Foundation.