PANGKALPINANG -- For many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the challenge of growing a business extends beyond access to capital. Obtaining the necessary business licenses is a crucial step in determining whether a product can compete and be accepted in broader markets.
This was the experience of Roteni (54), an MSME entrepreneur from Pangkalpinang City who produces betel leaf-based dishwashing liquid under the Bunda Fresh brand. Through PT TIMAH Tbk's Micro and Small Business Funding Program (PUMK), she received business mentoring as well as assistance in obtaining various business licenses, helping prepare her locally made product to compete on a larger scale.
The assistance included support in securing product distribution permits, halal certification, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) registration. For Roteni, this support marked an important milestone in expanding into markets that had previously been inaccessible due to the lack of product certifications.
Roteni's entrepreneurial journey began with the Pandan Wangi Women's Farmer Group (Kelompok Wanita Tani/KWT) on Pahlawan 12 Street, Keramat Village, Rangkui District, Pangkalpinang City. There, she recognized the untapped potential of the abundant betel leaves, which had previously been sold only as fresh leaves or simply trimmed back when they became overgrown.
She then began searching for ways to increase the plant's economic value. After studying various references, Roteni decided to develop a natural dishwashing liquid made from betel leaves.
The process was far from easy. For nearly four months, she conducted numerous trials to develop the right formula, adjusting the product's viscosity, cleaning effectiveness, and pH level to ensure it was safe and effective for everyday use.
"There were so many betel leaves in our KWT garden that weren't being fully utilized. I started thinking about how this plant could generate greater economic value. Eventually, I decided to create a dishwashing liquid made from betel leaves," she said.
Betel leaves were selected as the primary ingredient because they are well known for their natural antibacterial properties. To create a fresher fragrance, Roteni blended the extract with lime.
Initially, the product was marketed only to fellow KWT members, Family Welfare Movement (PKK) groups, and people in the surrounding neighborhood. The positive response from customers encouraged Roteni to further develop her business.
Today, Bunda Fresh is available in a variety of package sizes, including 250-milliliter and 450-milliliter refill pouches, 500-milliliter pump bottles, 750-milliliter bottles and refill pouches, 1-liter containers, and 5-liter jerry cans.
"Previously, I wasn't confident enough to market the product on a large scale because we didn't yet have a distribution permit. Sales were limited to friends and members of our community groups. Now that we've obtained the permit, we're able to market it much more widely," she said.
Recognizing the business's potential, PT TIMAH Tbk provided mentoring to help ensure that all of the required legal documentation could be completed.
According to Roteni, the company's support was especially valuable because the costs and administrative process involved in obtaining business certifications are often difficult for small business owners to manage.
"PT TIMAH helped cover the costs of obtaining our halal certification, distribution permit, and Intellectual Property Rights registration. I truly felt supported and guided throughout the process, which made everything move much faster. It has been an enormous help, and we've genuinely benefited from it," she said.
With the distribution permit now secured, Roteni has begun planning the next stage of business expansion. She hopes Bunda Fresh will soon be available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other modern retail outlets.
In addition to expanding its market reach, she is also preparing to increase production capacity. One of the biggest challenges she still faces is the limited supply of betel leaves, which currently comes only from the KWT garden.
"As our market grows, production will also need to increase. Right now, our biggest challenge is the limited supply of betel leaves. We hope to secure additional land so we can meet future production demands," she explained.
Looking ahead, Roteni hopes her business will continue to grow not only commercially but also by creating employment opportunities for members of the Women's Farmer Group and people in the surrounding community.
"My hope is that this business continues to grow, that we can establish our own production facility, and involve more women from the surrounding community so they can earn additional income for their families," she said. (*)
