The MEA 2024 program has drawn participation from 1,347 students from various educational backgrounds, including active vocational or high school students (SMK/A) or their equivalent (MA/MAK) across Indonesia. From this pool, 60 teams, each consisting of three members, will be selected out of the 449 teams that registered, representing 293 schools in 125 cities/regencies from 22 provinces. Notably, 435 of these teams hail from frontier, outermost, and least-developed (3T) regions, highlighting the remarkable entrepreneurial spirit among young people in these areas.

The launch event was attended by PNM’s business director, Prasetya Sayukti, who emphasized the importance of MEA in supporting social and environmental activities. “Entrepreneurship is a skill we need to hone. Unfortunately, very few young people in Indonesia possess the entrepreneurial spirit. Therefore, PT PNM, along with the government, is striving to create opportunities for fostering entrepreneurship,” he said.

The theme of MEA 2024, “The Youth Who Continue,” reflects the belief that the younger generation holds the key to carrying forward the entrepreneurial spirit amid the challenges of the times. Through this program, PNM is committed to providing support and guidance to help young entrepreneurs innovate, adapt and create impactful solutions, particularly for those from 3T regions who have the potential to build a better future.

MEA offers comprehensive training, ranging from business management and digital marketing to product development. Participants also gain access to experienced mentors and a broad business network, helping them bring their business ideas to life, which may have previously been hindered.

The first-place winner of MEA 2024 was Tim Rancak from SMK 3 state vocational school in Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, with their innovative home decor products made from gambir waste. Risti Septia, one of the team members, shared an inspiring story about their business idea. “We discovered the potential of gambir waste, a byproduct often overlooked in processing, and we were determined to transform it into useful products. After two months of research, we successfully created night lamps, pillows and other crafts,” Risti explained enthusiastically.

Tim Rancak expressed their gratitude for being part of MEA. “This training gave us new insights and strategies to grow our business. We hope the MEA program continues to nurture more young entrepreneurs from rural areas,” they added.

As a form of appreciation, the winners received prizes ranging from Rp 3 million to Rp 10 million, which they can use as capital to further develop their business portfolios. PNM remains committed to supporting the spirit of the younger generation in achieving sustainability, reducing inequalities and reaching the goals of sustainable development.

PNM believes that financing and mentorship are two sides of the same coin. Through the MEA initiative, PNM aims to nurture young entrepreneurs who are ready to face challenges and contribute to a better future.

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