PANGKALPINANG -- Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are one of the important pillars of the Indonesian economy. MSMEs are a sector that can create jobs.
To support the independence and development of MSMEs, PT Timah Tbk continuously implements the Micro Small Business Funding (PUMK) program to encourage MSMEs to move up in class.
Implemented since 2000, it has been recorded that thousands of MSMEs in the PT Timah Tbk Operational Area in Bangka Belitung Province, Riau Province, Riau Islands Province, and Jakarta have taken advantage of the PT Timah Tbk PUMK program.
The PT Timah Tbk PUMK program not only provides capital loans for MSME players but also provides coaching, mentoring, and training so that the fostered partners can develop their businesses.
PT Timah Tbk January-October 2023 has distributed funds amounting to IDR 6.8 billion to 191 business actors in the company's operational areas. The PT Timah Tbk PUMK program has directly benefited MSMEs.
Members of the MIND ID Mining Industry holding also help MSMEs with product promotion and marketing. In promotions, PT Timah Tbk often brings in the products of its fostered partners to participate in exhibitions at local, national, and international events.
From a marketing perspective, PT Timah Tbk markets the products of its fostered partners through Tins Gallery, Rumah BUMN, Serumpun Sebalai Gallery, and the PADI MSME digital market.
One of PT Timah Tbk's fostered partners who has successfully developed his business after becoming a fostered partner is Hamid, a resident of the Riau Islands Province.
Hamid said his shrimp paste-making business developed quite well after becoming a partner with PT Timah Tbk. He started his shrimp paste-making business 10 years ago.
After running this shrimp paste-making business for several years, Hamid and his wife wanted to develop their shrimp paste-making business so that it could be marketed outside the island. However, they are constrained by capital.
After receiving additional capital from PT Timah Hamid and his wife began to increase their shrimp paste production.
"I used the capital injection from PT Timah to buy shrimp from local fishermen as raw material for making shrimp paste and we were able to increase shrimp paste production," he said.
Likewise, Lisna, one of PT Timah Tbk's partners in East Belitung, said that her business experienced rapid development after becoming a partner with PT Timah Tbk.
Lisna produces various snacks characteristic of Belitung Island, such as pilus. So she thought about expanding her business in line with high consumer demand.
With a capital loan from PT Timah Tbk, she can add tools and raw materials for his pilus production, apart from that she can also maintain stock availability.
"Thank God the results can help our family's economy," she said. (*)
