Agro Santara Indonesia, a sociopreneur venture nurtured under Pertamina’s PFmuda program, has achieved a significant milestone by making its first international shipment: 10.4 tons of premium Kerinci cinnamon (kay u manis) to Turkey. The export’s transaction value reached USD 53,040, equivalent to approximately IDR 800–900 million depending on exchange rates. This success is a testament to the commitment of two young founders from Kerinci, Jambi — Rizqi and Hafiz — who set out with the ambition to introduce their local cinnamon to the global stage. Their strategy included collaborating with a local farmer group, Kelompok Tani Sehati (20 farmers), optimizing cultivation practices, replanting, and innovation in carbon storage and post-harvest handling. To bolster international market confidence, Agro Santara also adopted blockchain traceability systems and QR-code packaging, enabling end-to-end tracking from farm to export.
Pertamina’s support through its social & environmental responsibility program (TJSL) has been pivotal. Executives from Pertamina emphasize that this export achievement reflects the success of PFmuda in nurturing socially-conscious young entrepreneurs who can compete globally. Local government officials in Kerinci also expressed pride and pledged further support, seeing this initiative as not just a local success but a vehicle to elevate the name of Kerinci internationally. Looking ahead, projections suggest potential growth with export volumes possibly expanding to up to 250 tons annually if market conditions allow. This breakthrough underscores how a small-scale, well-supported initiative from a rural area can transform into a global trade opportunity—demonstrating the power of youth innovation, sustainability practices, and strategic institutional support.
