Empowering Stories Behind Pertamina SMEXPO 2024 Best-Selling MSME Products
Jakarta, October 30, 2024 – The recent Pertamina SMEXPO 2024 at Mall Kota Kasablanka in Jakarta showcased the remarkable success stories of two MSME partners under Pertamina’s mentorship. These two MSMEs, Kainnesia from Yogyakarta and Mutiara Handycraft from Kebumen, stood out by achieving the highest total sales and the highest number of items sold during the event from October 22-27.
Kainnesia: A Tale of Tradition and Innovation
Kainnesia, founded by Nur Salam, is a brand that represents the rich heritage of Indonesian woven fabrics with a modern twist. Nur Salam’s commitment to promoting the diversity of Indonesian woven fabrics led to the creation of Kainnesia, offering not only traditional woven fabrics but also modern products like outerwear, shirts, bags, and lanyards made from woven materials. The brand’s unique blend of tradition and innovation resonated with customers, resulting in sales transactions totaling 216 million rupiah at the Pertamina SMEXPO 2024.
Beyond showcasing woven products through Kainnesia, Nur Salam also established Sekolah Wastra Nusantara (Swantara) with a mission to preserve and promote Indonesian woven fabrics. Swantara aims to educate young people about Indonesian woven fabrics and cultivate a new generation of weavers. The curriculum covers everything from pre-production activities like designing motifs and natural dyeing techniques to weaving practices and marketing strategies.
Mutiara Handycraft: Empowering Differently-Abled Artisans
On the other hand, Mutiara Handycraft owned by Irma Suryani specializes in crafting bags from jute sacks, character rugs, patchwork masks, and clothing, with the majority of the seamstresses being people with disabilities. At the Pertamina SMEXPO 2024, Mutiara Handycraft’s products were a hit, selling over 3,000 items in total.
Irma’s journey with Mutiara Handycraft is not just about business success but also about empowering people with disabilities. Mutiara Handycraft has 300 differently-abled partners in Kebumen, around 3,000 in Central Java, spread across 17 districts. Pertamina’s support through the Pertamina Foundation has funded empowerment programs like PFpreneur, providing sewing machines and training for these artisans.
Driving Sustainable Development Goals through Empowerment
The commitment of Pertamina and its foundation to support these MSME partners reflects their dedication to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on Decent Work and Economic Growth. By empowering entrepreneurs like Kainnesia and Mutiara Handycraft, Pertamina is not only fostering sustainable economic growth but also preserving cultural heritage and creating a positive impact on society.
In conclusion, the stories of Kainnesia and Mutiara Handycraft serve as inspirations for businesses to not only prioritize personal interests but also uplift communities, leading to the creation of new job opportunities, new entrepreneurs, community empowerment, and cultural preservation. As Director of Operations at Pertamina Foundation, Yulius S. Bulo aptly puts it, these initiatives are essential for fostering economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability in the long run.
