Indonesian financial bodies boost Aceh's women entrepreneurs

PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) are joining forces to strengthen Aceh's ultra-micro women entrepreneurs, enabling them to grow their businesses. Recognizing that capital alone is insufficient, the program emphasizes crucial skills such as financial management, risk assessment, legal compliance, and market analysis.

The synergy between PNM and OJK ensures that beneficiaries receive not only access to capital but also vital financial literacy education. This includes an emphasis on Islamic finance, which is particularly relevant in Aceh. "Financing needs to go hand-in-hand with appropriate financial literacy. Including Islamic financial literacy which is very relevant to Aceh," stated Lalu Dodot Patria Ary, Operational and Institutional Relations Director at PNM.

This integrated approach has yielded significant results. As of July 31, 2026, 268,231 PNM Mekaar customers in Aceh have benefited from the financing and mentoring program. These entrepreneurs are organized into 19,628 groups and supported by 1,300 Mekaar facilitators across 77 units throughout the province. The program also assists entrepreneurs in integrating into the formal business ecosystem, with over 56,714 customers obtaining business identification numbers (NIB) and many securing halal certificates.

Nur Asma, a single mother and owner of Keripik Pisang Kak Nur (Kak Nur's Banana Chips), exemplifies the program's impact. Since joining PNM Mekaar Syariah in 2024, her business has grown significantly, reaching Grade A status with a financing ceiling of Rp 6 million. Her business now holds an NIB and a halal certificate, demonstrating how access to capital combined with proper guidance can foster substantial growth for home-based businesses. Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal also stressed the importance of UMKM continuously developing their mindset and management skills, encouraging entrepreneurs to be confident and financially astute, regardless of their business's humble beginnings.