Being the Foster Partner of Semen Gresik, A Disabled Snack Company Boss Has A Turnover of Tens of Millions
Rembang, July 4, 2022– Growing up in a farmers' family and living as a person with a disability did not hinder Saroni from being independent and changing his condition.
Despite the limitations, the man born in Rembang on January 11, 1992, started a business in the production and packaging of snacks under the name UD Orselo. The name derives from 'Orang Dukuh Selo (People of Selo Hamlet)'. It is named after a hamlet called Selo, located in Pelang Village, Sarang Subregency, Rembang Regency.
The first time this business was operated, the product packaging was quite simple and the marketing system was considered conventional. However, since 2019, there has been a glimmer of hope when the Rumah BUMN Rembang (RB) was initiated by PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG) and PT Semen Gresik (PTSG) was established. UD Orselo showed its growth after it joined as a foster partner of RB Rembang.
Through this RB, SMEs received mentoring and training programs to promote their business ventures. Some of the benefits, among others, include the packaging and business permits, business development training, and the opportunity to participate in the UMKM KOKOH program.
''The knowledge provided by the mentors through training in RB Rembang changed my mindset about good business. Thanks to mentoring from Semen Gresik through RB, UD Orselo's turnover rose 50 percent to 10 million rupiahs per month. I express my gratitude to Semen Gresik for this mentoring,'' said Saroni on Monday (4/7).
During the partnership, Saroni continued, his party was assisted in developing a network with SMEs, government sectors, and leaders. Saroni also claimed he became more confident because the facilitators and other partners perceived and treated him the same.
Meanwhile, the PTSG's Senior Manager of Communication and CSR, Dharma Sunyata, expressed his appreciation for the achievements of UD Orselo, which have been growing rapidly. He emphasized that the mentoring program for persons with disabilities involved in the SME business constitutes company support and commitment, establishing an inclusive society that upholds their welfare in the company's operational area.
Sunyata added that the value of this empowerment program is to strengthen the business capacity of disabled groups in the Rembang and Blora regions to achieve independence, as well as create a healthy and sustainable social and economic ecosystem.
"We provide our disabled friends the same opportunity to take part in the UMKM KOKOH competition as a form of appreciation for partner SMEs expecting to grow together with RB Rembang," said Sunyata.
Sunyata continued, that during the mentoring, they received various improvements in packaging, branding, and production management. Most SMEs partnered with RB Rembang are engaged in producing corn cobs, cattle skin (rambak) crackers, onion-flavored roasted nuts, dumplings, starch crackers, coffee, hand sanitizer, mask connectors, and fashion.
