Each of the 4 smaller triangles is equilateral and thus has sides of equal length.
Each of these smaller triangles has a perimeter of 9 cm and so has sides of length 39=3 cm. In △PQR, side PQ is made up of two such sides of length 3 cm and thus PQ=2×3=6 cm. Since △PQR is equilateral, then PR=QR=PQ=6 cm. Therefore, the perimeter of △PQR is 3×6=18 cm.