Erick Thohir Encourages Pertamina's Fostered MSMEs at Netherlands Tong Tong Fair: Continue the Go Global Process

Den Haag, September 5, 2022 – The Ministry of SOEs encourages MSME players to Go Global and penetrate the international market. One of the ways is by collaborating with Pertamina and several SOEs to present superior MSME products at the 2022 Tong Tong Fair in the Netherlands. Pertamina brought 175 MSME products under its guidance from Pertamina's Rumah BUMN.

"Please continue with the Go Global process. Do not stop at promotional activities at this exhibition," said Erick Thohir, Minister of SOEs, when meeting with Rahayu Dwiastuti, Pertamina's Fostered MSMEs, at the Tong Tong Fair.

Erick emphasized that after the Tong Tong Fair, there must be a concrete follow-up in the form of cooperation between MSMEs and buyers or entrepreneurs in the Netherlands or on a global scale. It was greeted with enthusiasm by Pertamina and Rahayu as representatives of Pertamina's Fostered MSMEs.

Rahayu Dwiastuti, Joglo Ayu Tenan UMKM owner from Yogyakarta, was specially brought by Pertamina to the Tong Tong Fair. Rahayu, an autoimmune survivor of Guillane Barre Syndrome, is grateful for this opportunity and committed to developing her business to Go Global. Currently, Joglo Ayu Tenan empowers the disabled community and 80 women and youth in 8 assisted villages around Yogyakarta.

"I am very grateful for Pertamina's trust to include me in this exhibition in the Netherlands. Becoming an MSME partner of Pertamina since 2018 is very beneficial because, in addition to funding assistance, I have also received many coaching programs that can improve the ability of MSMEs," said Rahayu.

Based on her love for arts and crafts, in 2015, the chairman of the Yogyakarta Crafts Association established Joglo Ayu Tenan as a place for artisans to gather and share knowledge. The artisans, predominantly women, pursue the arts of cloth, contemporary accessories, metal crafts, and natural stones to manifest their imagination in the form of jewelry, clothing, bags, and other beautiful crafts.

An autoimmune disease that suddenly arrived in 2018 has made the 1965-born woman experience various difficulties during her daily activities. Thus, she has doubts about continuing Joglo Ayu Tenan's activities.

Not dissolved by limited conditions, in the same year, Joglo Ayu Tenan joined as Pertamina's partner SMEs and in 2020, was included in the UMK Academy Go Global incubation program. "I have a mentor who teaches packaging, management, and business matching. So in addition to additional capital, I get exposure to participating in promotional exhibitions at home and abroad," said Rahayu.

Through exhibitions and business matching, Joglo Ayu Tenan products have penetrated the local Indonesian market and abroad, such as in Japan, India, Australia, and the Netherlands. Turnover has also soared higher than before becoming Pertamina's partner.

Various awards have been won by Rahayu Dwiastuti both at home and abroad. It includes the Finalist of the Indonesian Creative Appreciation 2022, Winner of Good Design Indonesia 2020 in the Project & Activity category, Australia Short Term Award for Business Readiness in Jewelry Design 2018, Best Prize in Category Textiles Inacraft 2017, Best of The Best Inacraft Award 2017, and Femina Award 2012.

VP of CSR & SMEPP of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, said that Mrs. Rahayu is one of the 66 thousand MSMEs that Pertamina has fostered since 1993. Mrs. Rahayu teaches us that having a limitation should not make us give up. "You have to keep the spirit and strive. Congratulations to all Pertamina's Fostered MSMEs who have participated in the coaching program and succeeded in developing their business," concluded Fajriyah.

Pertamina always supports ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) achievement, particularly Point 8, namely decent work and economic growth, which is realized through funding and MSME development programs.

It is part of the Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) to realize economic benefits in the community and drive the national economy. Through MSME programs and the spirit of Energizing Your Future, Pertamina continues to encourage every Foster Partner to become upgraded and Go Global MSME.**