Community Development Creates Jobs, Coordinating Ministry For The Economy Praises Lombok DSA Program

JAKARTA - PT. Astra International Tbk conducted a harvest and export release of 10 processed sorghum products in the Astra Sejahtera Village (DSA) Lombok. The total value reached Rp700 million.

Assistant Deputy for Community Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Chairul Saleh, appreciated Astra's efforts through the DSA program. Especially related to community-based assistance, guidance and empowerment in a sustainable manner through the development of export-oriented superior commodities.

"This program is not only able to increase the capacity and quality of superior village and regional processed products to penetrate the global export market, but has also succeeded in having an impact on job creation and a significant increase in income for local communities," said Chairul Saleh in an electronic message received at Jakarta, Sunday, January 23.

The Director General of National Export Development at the Ministry of Trade, Didi Sumedi, also positively welcomed the sorghum harvest for export. It is also hoped that Astra's fostered villages will be able to produce exporters who can export superior products on an ongoing basis.

“Today's activity is one of the implementations of the Village Excellence Product Export Development Cooperation with PT. Astra International Tbk which aims to increase the export capacity of villages to the global market, one of which is processed sorghum products," said Didi.

Since it was formalized on July 28, 2021, the Ministry of Trade and Astra have continued to commit. Later, from around 900 villages assisted by Astra, at least 100 villages must be able to export independently and get repeat orders within two years, namely in 2023.

In making the harvest and sorghum export a success, Astra cooperates with a number of ministries. Starting from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration. The export release took place last Saturday in Loko Sutrang Hamlet, Santong Mulya Village, North Lombok Regency.

Triyanto, Astra Social Engagement Manager, said that Yant Sorghum was started in Central Lombok. Since 2017, Yant Sorghum has developed the economy of farming communities, especially sorghum farmers.

In 2018, this village in Lombok became one of the DSAs. Until now, Triyanto said, it has developed in 5 cities and regencies in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) region and has helped farmers by increasing their income by an average of IDR 1.2 to 1.5 million per month.

"This Astra Prosperous Village is one of our social contributions in the field of entrepreneurship or the economy to help the community develop superior products," said Triyanto.