PANGKALPINANG -- The sounds of a feather-plucking machine and a steam cleaner blend together inside the chicken processing facility of CV Karimah Amanah Sejahtera, owned by Afri (44). From the semi-permanent building on Jalan Aik Akik, Tua Tunu, Pangkalpinang, Afri oversees the operations of the business she has run for the past eight years.
The success Afri enjoys today did not come easily. She went through many ups and downs in building her business after deciding to shift from poultry farming to running a chicken processing operation.
“In 2016 we went through a major setback—we went bankrupt. Then in 2018, I started rebuilding from zero. Thank God, now the business is stable and has begun to grow,” she recalled.
Today, Afri—whose full name is Afriani Siska—can sell between 300 and 2,000 chickens per day, and even up to 3,000 during peak moments such as the Prophet’s Birthday, the month of Ruah, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and New Year’s.
By maintaining quality and service, CV Karimah Amanah Sejahtera has grown rapidly. The number of employees, once only three, has now increased to 14.
“We have to work fast and be on time. Customers want sizes that match their orders and deliveries that arrive on schedule. When this business grows, our employees also feel the improvement in their welfare,” she said.
As demand increased, Afri once struggled to meet delivery needs due to limited vehicles. She needed an additional operational car, but her available capital was not enough.
Eventually, she learned about PT TIMAH Tbk’s loan program for MSMEs.
“With fast service, one operational car just wasn’t enough. Thank God, thanks to the capital loan from PT TIMAH Tbk, we were able to buy an additional vehicle. After that, demand for chickens also increased,” she explained.
Beyond financial assistance, Afri also benefited from business financial management training provided through the PT TIMAH Tbk fostering program. This training helped her business become more organized and professional.
“PT TIMAH Tbk doesn’t just provide loans—they also give financial management training. Our bookkeeping became organized, and we now clearly understand our income and expenses. Without proper bookkeeping, things can easily get out of control,” she said.
Afri hopes PT TIMAH Tbk will continue to provide opportunities and support for MSME players so they can grow and create jobs for the community.
“Hopefully PT TIMAH Tbk continues to support MSMEs so they can develop and help boost the local economy,” she said. (*)
