PANGKALPINANG -- Halal certification is an important factor for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in building consumer trust and expanding market opportunities. To support this effort, PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk has collaborated with the Integrated Business Service Center (PLUT) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Cooperatives and SMEs Office to facilitate halal certification for MSMEs.
One of the business owners benefiting from PT TIMAH's halal certification assistance is Titi Raswati, the owner of Nasi Bakar Safira, located on Jalan Ahmad Yani Dalam in Pangkalpinang. Through PT TIMAH's support, 27 of her products successfully obtained halal certification in 2026.
Titi started her grilled rice business in Tempilang in 2012. Four years later, in 2016, she relocated her business to Pangkalpinang, where she has continued to develop her culinary enterprise.
She explained that she had been trying to obtain halal certification since 2017. However, the application process was quite complicated at the time, and she was only able to secure certification in 2026 with assistance from PT TIMAH.
For Titi, halal certification is more than simply fulfilling a business requirement. It also adds value by reassuring consumers about the products she offers.
"Thank God, I am very happy and grateful for the assistance from PT TIMAH. Having halal certification gives me greater confidence to expand production and market my products. Consumers can also feel more assured about what they are buying," she said.
The support has been particularly meaningful for Titi amid the business challenges she has faced. She revealed that Nasi Bakar Safira's revenue has declined significantly due to weakening consumer purchasing power.
Nevertheless, these challenges have not discouraged her from keeping her business running. She continues to maintain product quality, from selecting raw ingredients to food preparation, to ensure that her products consistently meet customers' expectations and maintain their trust.
In addition to facilitating halal certification, PT TIMAH has supported her business by providing opportunities to participate in bazaars and access to business financing assistance to encourage further growth.
According to Titi, participating in bazaars and receiving various forms of assistance provide valuable opportunities for MSMEs to introduce their products to a wider audience while sustaining their businesses amid market competition.
She also expressed her appreciation for PT TIMAH's continued commitment to supporting MSMEs, including its efforts to incorporate locally produced MSME products into various company activities.
"I am very grateful to PT TIMAH for all the support it has provided to my business. Thank God, even as our revenue has been declining, there is still attention and assistance available for MSMEs. PT TIMAH also frequently places orders for MSME products, giving us opportunities to keep our businesses running," she said. (*)
