Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – No business can run smoothly without obstacles. This is what was experienced by Neneng Kurniasih, pselling cakes and clothes in the Rindam area, Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta. The business he started was in limbo due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Initially, Neneng started her business by selling pastries. As profits accumulated, he then turned his capital around by adding business products, namely selling clothes on credit.

“Initially I started a business selling cookies in 2012. I sold the cookies using a system pre order. From the business of selling pastries, new business capital was collected, which I then used to sell clothes on credit to people. “However, my business plummeted due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Neneng, quoted on Tuesday (25/6/2024).

After not selling for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lack of capital to start a business again, Neneng was then introduced to the Building a Prosperous Family Economy (Mekaar) program from PT PNM by one of her friends. This service is a capital loan for underprivileged women in MSMEs which was launched in 2015.

“I then tried to borrow capital from PNM Mekaar around 2021-2022. I got a loan of around IDR 6 million. I used the capital to run a business selling clothes, because I thought at that time food had many competitors. However, after that business selling clothes “I finally used the loan as capital to sell pastries again,” added Neneng.

Through a business product called 'Nastar Jadoel Emak Nye Ociit', Neneng admitted that she received many orders for dry cakes. There are various types of cookies sold. Nastar in 500 gram jars is sold for Rp. 60 thousand, sago cheese Rp. 55 thousand, snow white Rp. 60 thousand, then there are ketapang seeds for Rp. 40 thousand in 600 gram packaging. Neneng also sells dents in 5 liter jars for IDR 40 thousand.

Interestingly, Neneng also received dimsum orders. Usually, the people who order are students from campuses around their place of business in East Jakarta. All food is usually ordered in advance by buyers via WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, for clothes, Neneng admitted that her merchandise sold quickly. He usually takes clothes from markets or larger shops, then markets them to people with a credit system of just a month. Moreover, Neneng doesn't make too big a profit from selling these clothes, so many people are interested in buying clothes from her. Thanks to a capital loan from PNM Mekaar, Neneng's business turnover has now increased.

“After joining PNM Mekaar, I not only got a business capital loan, but also got to know other PNM Mekaar members. Through groups or communities like this, I can expand my marketing and increase my number of buyers. In fact, there are also many women “PNM Mekaar members who also order pastries and clothes from me. With increasing income, now I can achieve a business turnover of more than IDR 5 million per month,” he added.

Neneng also felt grateful, because thanks to the loan capital from PNM Mekaar she was able to run her business better. Neneng even admitted that this had a big impact on her family's economy. One of them, he can send his children to school without any financial constraints at all.

On a separate occasion, the Director of BRI Micro Business, revealed that the commitment of BRI, PNM and Pegadaian in developing the economy at the grassroots level through Ultra Micro Holding (UMi) is a clear example that true economic transformation starts from the bottom. By continuing to empower micro business actors, they not only become agents of local economic growth, but also participate in overall national economic development.

Since it was formed in September 2021, the total credit distributed to micro and ultra-micro business actors as of Quarter I-2024 reached IDR 622.6 trillion. This amount has more or less reached 47.6% of BRI's total financing with 36.8 million customers.

“It turns out that for empowerment it is not enough to give them credit. The most important thing is two things, they are given credit and they are accompanied, and secondly they must also be taught to save,” he concluded.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(dpu/dpu)