This past year has been a busy and productive year for Koperasi Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK). Highlights of the year have been the openings of two new regional branch offices. In March 2010, the Singaraja branch opened in Pengarakan and in December 2010 the Tabanan branch opened in Baturiti. MUK plans to open two more branch offices in Bali in 2011 - in Badung and Gianyar. With five regional branch offices, MUK will qualify for a Provincial License and be able to serve small businesses throughout Bali.
Even as MUK moves closer to obtaining a provincial license in Bali, the groundwork is already being laid for serving other provinces. Most significantly, MUK has been working in Papua with stakeholders, village leaders, and advisors to develop microfinance, savings, and business consulting services there in 2012.
Currently, there is no microfinance industry in Papua, yet the need is great. Papua has had an tremendous influx of transmigrants who have been benefiting from the enormous natural resources, including oil, gold, and forest resources. The indigenous Papuans have largely been left out of this economic boom and their population is now out numbered 3-to-2.
MUK's plan is to support small business development amongst the indigenous people, beginning with more modern and eco-friendly pig farming. (Currently, many indigenous people raise pigs on the edge of the sea and allow the tides to wash the waste away). Pig farming is seen as a good beginning as pigs are a symbol of harmony amongst Papuan cultures. A second project in Papua would be aquaculture with the raising of catfish.
And so, after a successful year in 2010, MUK is looking forward to providing services to small businesses in 2011 and beyond. MUK and Kiva appreciate your support of small entrepreneurs in Bali, Indonesia and welcome your support in the future.
This journal was written by Jerry Harter, who has been serving as a Kiva Fellow with Koperasi Mitra Usaha
Kecil (MUK) in Blimbingsari, Bali from November 2010 through January 2011.
This journal is about your loan to:
Melati Group -
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