For Tri’s family, making blangkon is not only about preserving a traditional craft, but also about maintaining their household income. This means ensuring the business remains sustainable, reaching a wider market and making sure the skill of crafting blangkon continues to have economic value.

Tri’s journey eventually led her to PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (Persero), or PNM. Since becoming a PNM Mekaar customer in 2023, Tri has gained access to financing that has helped her meet her raw material needs. But for PNM, strengthening ultramicro businesses goes beyond providing capital.

Through its empowerment programs, PNM also provides training and assistance to help customers develop their businesses and explore new ways to market their products. For Tri, social media has become a new platform to introduce her blangkon to a wider audience.

“I am grateful to PNM for providing training and assistance that have been very beneficial to my business. Through these programs, I have learned how to market my products through social media, helping my products become more widely known,” Tri said.

Tri’s experience illustrates that strengthening ultramicro businesses does not end when financing is provided. Knowledge, new skills and opportunities to reach broader markets are equally important in helping entrepreneurs grow. This is where empowerment becomes an integral part of a business journey.

PNM President Director Kindaris said PNM seeks not only to provide access to financing but also to create opportunities for underprivileged communities to develop their existing potential. According to him, financing serves as an entry point, while empowerment helps customers build the capabilities and confidence needed to grow.

“Providing access is not only about financing. We want to create opportunities for every customer to learn, develop their business and become more confident in their potential. That is why financing and empowerment go hand in hand, so that the businesses they run can not only survive but also continue to grow,” said Kindaris.

This approach is particularly relevant for traditional businesses such as Tri’s. When traditional crafts are given room to develop, the benefits extend beyond family livelihoods. They also create opportunities for local skills and products to remain relevant and find their place amid changing generations.

“I hope this assistance can continue so that we, as customers, can keep growing, become more confident, develop our businesses and improve our family’s economic well-being,” she added.

From her home-based workshop in Pracimantoro, Tri continues to make each blangkon by hand. Every order provides income for her family while also contributing to the continued journey of a traditional skill, allowing it to remain part of everyday life in a changing world.

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