Papuaaround.com – PT Pertamina (Persero) is propelling Sasagu, a rising micro business from Papua, onto the global stage. Founded in 2023, Sasagu specializes in modern sago-based food products and has rapidly gained momentum through the Pertamina UMK Academy 2025 program. The company now eyes international expansion, attracting interest from potential buyers in Germany and Japan.
“We believe our business can scale faster after receiving intensive mentorship through the Pertamina UMK Academy. Our production capacity and revenue have grown significantly in just a few months,” said Sasagu’s founder, Herlinda Sinaga, on Sunday (27/7/2025).
The growing demand for Sasagu’s authentic yet innovative local delicacies, especially from international markets, marks a promising milestone. The brand has already begun preparations to enter the Australian market. This opportunity follows Herlinda’s selection as the sole female entrepreneur from Eastern Indonesia in the 25 Woman-led MSMEs – Ready to Export program organized by Australia Awards 2024.
Throughout her journey with the Pertamina UMK Academy, Herlinda gained hands-on knowledge in production management, packaging, branding, and marketing. These skills helped Sasagu gain greater visibility both online and offline. The brand’s products, including gluten-free sago flour and cookies, are now available in one of the largest supermarkets in Jayapura.
“Our cookies have become a top-selling snack in Jayapura’s leading supermarket. Our sago flour, rich in cultural identity and gluten-free, has emerged as a market leader,” Herlinda shared.
Before joining the program, Herlinda admitted that Sasagu faced numerous challenges. With the help of personalized coaching, she overcame major obstacles and turned her small enterprise into a competitive player in the food sector.
Herlinda’s commitment goes beyond profit. Emphasizing environmental sustainability, she has implemented a one-for-five policy—planting five sago saplings for every tree harvested. This practice reflects her dedication to preserving Papua’s natural resources while aiming to empower the local community through inclusive growth.
The inspiration behind Sasagu traces back to the 2021 Papua National Sports Week (PON XX). At that time, Herlinda struggled to source tapioca and boba ingredients, which led her to experiment with sago as a substitute. It took two years of innovation to perfect a chewy, delicious boba made from sago.
Developing a crunchy and flavorful sago-based cookie also required extensive research. Herlinda delved into international journals to ensure the quality and taste could rival those of conventional wheat-based cookies.
Her innovation has earned Sasagu several prestigious accolades, including Australia Awards 2024, Best UMKM FnB Track from Digital Creative Entrepreneurs, TOP 350 PFpreneur Women UMKM by Pertamina, and finalist recognition from Indonesia Food Innovation by the Ministry of Industry.
Pertamina’s Papua Maluku CSR Manager, Ispiani Abbas, expressed appreciation for the growing impact of the program. “We are committed to helping local MSMEs level up and bring more positive changes to communities and the environment,” he said.
To support learning, the Pertamina UMK Academy has launched a digital Learning Management System (LMS). This platform provides access to training materials, assignments, and evaluation tools in four key categories: Go Modern, Go Digital, Go Online, and Go Global. More than 30 interactive modules, presented in gamified formats, aim to keep participants engaged and motivated.
Currently, 21 MSMEs from Papua Maluku have qualified for the academy, up from just five last year. Pertamina hopes to continue increasing this number to broaden the program’s impact on the local economy.
