BANDA ACEH – PT Pembangunan Aceh (Pema) provided assistance funds worth a total of Rp350 million to the two best Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the coronation night of PT Pema-assisted MSMEs, Monday (23/12/2024).
This program aims to support the development of MSMEs to be more independent and competitive.
The two recipients of the fostered funds are CV Raja Dua Bersaudara (Zuper Liquid Soap), which received Rp125 million, and Indatu D’Coco, which received Rp225 million. This assistance was handed over directly to the respective owners, Yudhi Ridhayat and Rahmad Qudri at Kyriad Muraya Hotel Banda Aceh.
President Director of PT Pema, Faisal Saifudin, explained that this program is the company’s first step in supporting Acehnese MSMEs to “move up”. “We hope that this program will be able to help MSMEs become independent and access funding from financial institutions. In the future, we plan to continue providing similar support,” said Faisal.
Before being selected, seven MSMEs were nominated in an open selection process. The best two were selected based on innovation and business plan.
Feriyana, Acting Head of the Aceh Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office (DPMPTSP), said that the selection process was done through pitching business proposals.
“Through this pitch, MSME players are invited to innovate and plan their business carefully. The high enthusiasm of the participants shows that Aceh’s MSMEs have strong competitiveness,” said Feriyana.
Rahmad Qudri, owner of Indatu D’Coco, explained that this assistance is very meaningful to develop the coconut business he has managed since 2016. “We have been processing coconuts manually. With this fund, we plan to buy a machine to improve efficiency,” he said.
Rahmad, who lives in Ulee Kareng, Banda Aceh, markets his virgin coconut and coconut jelly products to various shops. The business was inspired by his work experience in Malaysia before returning to Aceh. “Aceh is rich in natural resources, so why not utilize this coconut potential for a bigger business,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yudhi Ridhayat, owner of Zuper Soap, said that the eco-friendly soap business he has been running since 2018 targets restaurants, eateries and cafes. “We focus on reducing the use of plastic waste with a door to door refill system. Currently, we serve 120 points in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar,” Yudhi explained.
With help from PT Pema, Yudhi plans to set up soap refill stations in several supermarkets. “Consumers can bring their own bottles to refill, thus reducing plastic waste. This will be a big step towards creating a more sustainable business,” he added.
This program is expected to be the driving force of the Acehnese economy as well as an inspiration for other MSME players to continue to innovate and develop.