Building a small business into a resilient and competitive enterprise requires more than time. It demands continuous mentoring, capacity building, and opportunities to learn and grow. This commitment is reflected in the UMKM BISA 2026 Programme, a business development initiative for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) supported by the Astra Group. Organised by Astra in collaboration with Yayasan Astra – Yayasan Dharma Bhakti Astra, the programme aims to strengthen the capabilities, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability of participating MSMEs through a comprehensive process of selection, intensive training, mentoring, and recognition of outstanding businesses.
Throughout 2026, the programme was conducted in several phases. One key milestone was the Business Masterclass, held from 15–17 July 2026 at Yayasan Astra – Yayasan Dharma Bhakti Astra in Jakarta. Out of hundreds of Astra Group-supported MSMEs in the selection process, only 75 advanced to the Business Masterclass stage.
Notably, all eight MSMEs supported by PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) successfully secured places among the programme’s top 75 participants. Even more impressively, one of Astra Agro’s partner MSMEs was recognised as one of the Top 10 Outstanding MSMEs in the UMKM BISA 2026 Programme.
Astra Agro’s participation reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the economic resilience of communities around its operational areas. Representing five operational units, the eight participating MSMEs operate across diverse sectors, including food processing, fisheries, handicrafts, and fashion. This demonstrates the wide range of local economic potential nurtured through the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.
PT Waru Kaltim Plantation: Handicraft MSME Recognised Among the Top 10
A significant achievement came from PT Waru Kaltim Plantation (PT WKP), Astra Agro’s subsidiary in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, which nominated two community-based MSMEs: POKDAKAN and SimpulPal, both based in Waru Village.
POKDAKAN (Fish Farmers Group) was established with Astra Agro’s support to promote freshwater aquaculture and strengthen local food security. Meanwhile, SimpulPal is a handicraft business specialising in handmade keychains and bag charms.
Beyond qualifying for the Business Masterclass, SimpulPal earned recognition as one of the Top 10 MSMEs in the UMKM BISA 2026 Programme. The award acknowledges the enterprise’s product quality, business management, and consistent growth achieved through Astra Agro’s ongoing mentoring programme.
SimpulPal’s success demonstrates how sustained capacity-building initiatives can empower local entrepreneurs to develop highly competitive businesses while creating meaningful economic value for their communities.
PT Sukses Tani Nusasubur: Promoting Local Food Innovation
PT Sukses Tani Nusasubur (PT STN), another Astra Agro subsidiary operating in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, was represented by two community-supported MSMEs from West Labangka Village: Labanana and kiyukchips.id.
Both businesses specialise in processed food products and successfully advanced to the Business Masterclass alongside the programme’s top-performing MSMEs from across the Astra Group.
Their participation reflects PT STN’s commitment to unlocking local economic potential through value-added food processing. Through continuous mentoring, participating entrepreneurs have gained valuable insights into business strategy, product innovation, and market development, strengthening their competitiveness and readiness to reach broader markets.
PT Nirmala Agro Lestari: Supporting Rural Entrepreneurship
PT Nirmala Agro Lestari (PT NAL), Astra Agro’s subsidiary in Lamandau Regency, Central Kalimantan, nominated Teratai, a community enterprise from Beruta Village, to participate in the programme.
The opportunity enabled the business owner to deepen knowledge of business innovation, product quality improvement, and sustainable business development strategies. Astra Agro’s mentoring approach goes beyond strengthening business capabilities. It also aims to cultivate resilient, self-reliant enterprises that contribute to long-term rural economic development.
As a result, Teratai successfully advanced through the UMKM BISA selection process and joined the Business Masterclass.
PT Pasangkayu: Strengthening Local Creative Industries
Representing Astra Agro’s operations in West Sulawesi, PT Pasangkayu (PT PSKY) nominated Kripja Jaya Makmur from Pakawa Village and Ikatan Kesenian Kreasi Matra (IKKM), a fashion and handicraft enterprise based in Pasangkayu.
Throughout the Business Masterclass, participants learned directly from industry experts about best practices in building sustainable businesses. This equipped them with practical knowledge to enhance competitiveness and support the continued growth of MSMEs in their regions.
PT Sari Aditya Loka: Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship
From Jambi Province, PT Sari Aditya Loka (PT SAL) nominated Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) Srikandi from Muara Delang Village to participate in the UMKM BISA 2026 Programme.
The participation of this women-led farming group reflects Astra Agro’s commitment to strengthening women’s economic empowerment through community-based entrepreneurship. In addition to classroom learning, participants joined benchmarking visits to well-established MSMEs. These visits provided opportunities to adopt best practices and apply new ideas to further develop their businesses.
Advancing Sustainable Community Development
The successful participation of all Astra Agro-supported MSMEs in the UMKM BISA 2026 Programme marks an important milestone in a much broader journey of business growth and community empowerment.
The knowledge, experience, and professional networks gained throughout the programme are expected to help participating entrepreneurs continue innovating, expand their market reach, and strengthen their competitiveness.
As part of its long-term commitment to community development, Astra Agro remains dedicated to providing continuous mentoring and capacity-building opportunities, enabling more local MSMEs to grow into independent, resilient, and sustainable businesses that generate lasting economic value for the communities they serve.
