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Sarinah History

Company History

PT Sarinah (Persero) was established on August 17, 1962 as the cornerstone of Indonesia’s modern retail business.

As a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), Sarinah was the brainchild of the country’s Founding Father, President Soekarno, with the purpose of facilitating retail trade activities and driving economic growth of Indonesia.

This far-reaching mission was manifested through the construction of Sarinah Building on Jl. M. H. Thamrin, Jakarta. The inauguration of Sarinah Building on August 15, 1966 also marked its existence as the first department store in Indonesia.

In carrying out President Soekarno’s mandate that Sarinah must become the center of trade and promotion for domestic-made products, especially agricultural and industrial products, Sarinah continues to uphold its commitment to empower the small, medium enterprises and cooperatives’ products.

Responding to the ever-changing consumers’ needs, Sarinah has expanded its business by establishing a number of subsidiaries in more than five decades of its existence. Positioning itself as a partner, Sarinah has reached out to local craftsmen in remote areas, cooperatives in various villages and cities, and well-known fashion designers in the capital. In addition, Sarinah’s trading activities have included exports and imports of various commodities and furniture. These products also decorate the storefronts of several Sarinah outlets in Jakarta, Semarang and Malang.

Sarinah is named after one of President’s Soekarno’s childhood caregivers. The deep impression of how influential the caregiver in his life has inspired the naming. Reflecting on this special figure, Sarinah strives to carry out its mission as a trusted partner for small businesses and as an international ambassador for Indonesia’s cultural heritage through the diverse array of local products it develops and markets.

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