President Jokowi Praises Mekaar Entrepreneurs’ Products
President Jokowi meets entrepreneurs of PNM Mekaar at Keyongan Kidul Sabdodadi recreation ground, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta province, Tuesday (01/30). (Photo: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/Kris)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expressed admiration for products created by women entrepreneurs joining Mekaar (building prosperous household economy) program run by PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM). President Jokowi said that these products have a very good quality and have the potential to compete with foreign products due to its competitive price.
“I bought a pair of pants. How much does it cost? I only paid Rp15 thousand for it. So, what it means? It is very cheap and competitive, and it can compete with foreign products if the price is Rp15 thousand,” the President said it when he met women entrepreneurs fostered by PNM Mekaar at Keyongan Kidul Sabdodadi recreation ground, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta province, Tuesday (01/30). He added that the batik pants have a good potential for African market and it can be exported in large quantities.
Sumini Siti Aisyah, the pants’ seller, is a customer of PNM Mekaar since 2017. She told about her story of starting her business with a loan of Rp2 million from PNM Mekaar.
Her business then continued to grow until she could earn around Rp5 million per week. After paying the monthly installment, Sumini said that her net income is around Rp1.5 million.
She expressed hope that Mekaar program can continue in the future although the administration changes. She thought this program has helped women in supporting their families’ economy.
“Hopefully, it can be continued although a new president will take charge. It is really helping women’s economy. It is not easy to get a loan from individuals. This program is helpful because it eases us to pay it back with low rate of interest, unlike when we borrow money from loan sharks,” (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/ABD)(AW/MMB)
