Jakarta. Financing firm Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) is helping its customers learn more about the recycling business.

The training took place in a “comparative study” format. As many as 16 PNM Mekaar customers got to visit the Sari Timbul glass factory in Bali on June 11-13. They were all the team leaders of the working groups in other regions such as Kalimantan, Wonogiri, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Mojokerto, Probolinggo, and Magelang.

Sari Timbul Glass Factory itself is a business owned by I Gede Rediawan, a customer assisted by PNM in the company’s micro capital program UlaMM. 

This company has attracted many international buyers seeking to buy products made from waste glass. Rediawan also allowed the PNM Mekaar customers to display their products at the factory, which often receives visits by foreign tourists.

During the training, all participants made crafts from recycled glass such as flower vases. They also made crafts like dream-catchers from chicken and goose feathers. 

“So hopefully we can develop our MSME [micro, small and medium enterprise] products together,” Rediawan was quoted as saying in a press statement.

PNM Denpasar Branch Leader Leonardus Yosi Tyas Himawan said that he hoped this activity could help the participants come up with creative ideas to develop their recycling businesses.

“So hopefully, the participants can ask questions and be actively involved in each of these comparative study activities. So we can all take home valuable experiences and new inspiration to apply to our respective groups," Yosi said.

PNM has been holding these comparative studies since 2022. Around 200 customers have taken part in these training sessions so far. This comparative study embraces the tagline #CariTauLangkahBaru (‘Find New Ways’) as it seeks to help participants explore ways to grow their businesses.