Cilegon. Chemical and infrastructure solutions company Chandra Asri Group is showing its support for local culinary micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The company is partnering with 23 culinary MSMEs to open stalls within the petrochemical plant during the scheduled plant maintenance period. During this turn-around maintenance (TAM), the MSMEs will help provide food for the workers. Chandra Asri Group has also deployed its safety, health, and environment (SHE) team as well as doctors to keep an eye on the quality of the food being provided.

The 23 MSMEs come from Cilegon’s Ciwadan District and Serang’s Anyar District. This initiative is part of Chandra Asri’s commitment to help Indonesian MSMEs, which serve as the backbone of Indonesia’s economy.

"As a growth partner for Indonesia, particularly in the Cilegon and Serang area, Chandra Asri Group supports the government's efforts to enhance MSMEs as a foundation for community economic empowerment. The company involves local community MSMEs to open stalls in the plant area, providing various food alternatives, especially for thousands of contractor workers during the TAM process. By involving the culinary MSMEs, we can help improve the economic standards of the local community,” Chandra Asri’s Director of Legal, External Affairs, and Circular Economy Edi Riva’i was quoted as saying in a press statement.

Henny, one of the sellers from Pangabuan, reported a whopping 250 percent increase in her business’s daily income. She added: “Thank you to ChandraAsri Group for giving the local community this opportunity, allowing our income to increase and enabling us to have broader social relations."

Likewise, Cut Mairoh --who comes from Grogol Indah Village-- reported a 500-800 percent increase in its daily revenue. Mairoh sells beverages and instant meals. “This has made a significant impact on my family’s economy, including supporting my children's education expenses. I am grateful to Chandra Asri Group for this opportunity and hope to [open a stall again here] in the next maintenance period.”

According to Edi Riva’i, Chandra Asri embraces the circular economy concept to help the MSMEs. The company has also been working alongside the Department of Industry and Trade to help their fostered MSMEs since 2022. Selected MSMEs can exchange plastic waste from their business activities or the surroundings for BBM Plas or plastic fuel, which is produced by IPST ASARI, a Chandra Asri Group initiative. IPST ASARI converts the plastic waste into fuel through the pyrolysis process.