PNM Mekaar Interest Rate is Guaranteed to Fall to 8 Percent Starting September

Minister of MSME Maman Abdurrahman (photo; VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) Maman Abdurrahman stated that the interest rate of the Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera (Mekaar) loan program managed by PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) will be reduced to 8 percent starting early September 2026.

The decision was conveyed by Maman after attending the Meeting of the People's Business Credit Steering Committee (KUR) chaired by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto together with representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Danantara at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (12/8).

"Alhamdulillah, it was decided that the interest rate of the PNM Mekaar loan would be around eight percent. Insyaallah it will come into effect around early September," said Maman, Wednesday, August 12.

Maman explained that as many as 14 million pre-prosperous mothers and women who have been Mekaar program customers for more than a decade face loan interest rates in the range of 18 to 25 percent. The amount is still considered relatively high compared to their economic conditions.

The amount of the loan fee is also influenced by the intensive mentoring model run by PNM through account officers and account advisors. PNM not only provides financing, but also provides mentoring, coaching, and direct monitoring of the business development of customers.

Seeing this condition, he continued, President Prabowo Subianto directed that women who are ultra-micro and super-micro business activists who are customers of PNM Mekaar get more affordable loan costs.

"The order from the President, the interest rate of Mekaar loans must be below 10 percent so that it does not burden mothers who are in the pre-prosperous group," said Maman.

The government is trying to ease the financing burden by providing a subsidy of around 10 percent so that Mekaar's loan interest rate becomes 8 percent.

The Ministry of MSME followed up on the decision together with Danantara and PNM by implementing a reduction in Mekaar interest rates starting in early September 2026.

The Financing Policy Committee for MSMEs will also continue to monitor the implementation of the PNM Mekaar interest reduction policy so that it is targeted, effective, and provides comprehensive benefits for women who own ultra-micro businesses.

"Mr. President ordered that the execution of the reduction of PNM Mekaar interest rates must be immediately accelerated so that Mekaar program customers can immediately enjoy it and they are no longer burdened with high interest rates," said Maman.