Bank Mandiri expanded its Mandiri Sahabatku program to Ansan, South Korea, marking its first implementation in the city that hosts one of the largest Indonesian migrant worker communities (24/11).

The initiative aims to provide comprehensive and relevant financial education, covering literacy, stock investment understanding, and fishery business opportunities for PMI preparing to return home or planning to empower their families.

The workshop at Warung Indonesia gathered 183 PMI from regions including Indramayu, Cilacap, Ponorogo, Malang, and Lampung.

Most participants are employed in the manufacturing sector.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Ali Andika Wardhana, officially opened the event, which was attended by Bank Mandiri Senior Vice President, Government Project 3, Yoga Sulistijono, as program supervisor.

PMI Receive Investment Insights and Fishery Business Opportunities

During the investment session, Mandiri Sekuritas Retail Director Theodora V. Manik served as the main speaker.

She guided participants on how to develop secure and sustainable investment portfolios.

The program also introduced fishery business opportunities facilitated by startup FisTx, which explained the offtaker business model, upstream–downstream partnerships, and fishery business packages designed specifically for Mandiri Sahabatku participants.

This approach helps PMI and their families explore business possibilities that can be prepared even before their return to Indonesia.

Program Supports Human Capital, MSME Growth, and Family Economic Resilience

Bank Mandiri stated that the initiative aligns with President Prabowo’s Asta Cita agenda, including human capital improvement, MSME empowerment, and strengthening family economies.

Through the sessions, PMI receive skills in financial planning, investment readiness, and establishing small businesses from any location.

According to Yoga, the financial literacy session emphasized structured personal finance management.

He explained the importance of separating daily needs accounts from business capital accounts to support early business preparation.

“Mandiri Sahabatku does not only prepare participants for entrepreneurship after returning home. We encourage them to start now by saving, investing, and creating business plans that can be run with their families. We present this combination of financial literacy, investment, and business opportunities so the impact is concrete and sustainable,” he said.

Participants Gain Practical Guidance for Saving, Investing, and Starting Small Businesses

Theodora V. Manik noted that discipline and risk understanding are key elements when building a healthy investment portfolio.

She emphasized that participants need practical frameworks to invest consistently and with clear direction.

One participant, Abduh from Ponorogo, who works in manufacturing in Ansan, said he now understands the importance of separating daily expenses from capital accounts to begin a business.

He aims to start a small family-managed business within six to eight months.

To support financial activation, organizers provided exclusive Mandiri Sahabatku souvenirs, cash prizes, and rewards of up to Rp50 million for account openings and service activations.

Bank Mandiri also offered on-site banking services, including direct debit card issuance.

Since its launch in 2011, Mandiri Sahabatku has reached more than 21,000 participants across several countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.

In Indonesia, support continues for returning PMI and their families in regions such as Indramayu, Cilacap, Ponorogo, Malang, Lombok, and other PMI areas.

The initiative also integrates with Livin’ Around The World (LATW), enabling Indonesian citizens abroad to open accounts with local SIM cards, make cross-border transactions, and begin investing through Livin’ by Mandiri.

This integration strengthens Bank Mandiri’s commitment to inclusive and modern banking services for global communities.

PHOTO: BANK MANDIRI

This article was created with AI assistance.