BRI Life Empowers Eceng Gondok UMKM through Innovative Product Development

Enhancing Competitiveness and Sustainability

In an effort to boost the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) based on local resources, BRI Life, in collaboration with BRI Research Institute, has initiated a comprehensive empowerment program for eceng gondok artisans in Semarang. The program, which ran from October to December 2025, targeted 30 UMKM participants, predominantly managed by women residing around Kesongo Village, Tuntang District.

Program Components and Objectives

The empowerment program focused on three key areas:

1. Production Capacity Building: Enhancing the quality and consistency of production through training and establishment of a shared production house.
2. Product Innovation: Developing innovative products to align with current market trends, thereby increasing the artisans' market competitiveness.
3. Business Management Improvement: Providing business management training to improve the overall management of the UMKM.

Impact and Significance

This initiative not only aims to improve the economic well-being of the participating UMKM but also contributes to the environmental sustainability of Rawa Pening Lake. By controlling the growth of eceng gondok, the program helps maintain the lake's ecosystem. The program's success could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other regions facing similar environmental challenges.

Conclusion

The collaboration between BRI Life and BRI Research Institute demonstrates a successful model of corporate social responsibility that combines business empowerment with environmental sustainability. As the program continues to evolve, it is expected to have a lasting impact on both the local community and the environment.