JAKARTA - PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk (BTN) continues to strengthen its role as a regional development partner through cross-sector collaboration in line with the spirit of strengthening the BUMN ecosystem under the auspices of Danantara (Daya Anagata Nusantara). This commitment is realized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a number of Cooperation Agreements (PKS) with the Samosir Regency Government and a number of Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) to support the development of the tourism ecosystem, empowerment of MSMEs, health services, to the digitization of government services in the Lake Toba area.
BTN President Director Nixon L.P. Napitupulu said that Samosir Regency has a strategic position as part of the Lake Toba area which has been designated as an Indonesian Super Priority Tourism Destination. According to him, the growing tourism sector needs to be supported by a strong economic ecosystem in order to be able to create a wider impact for the community.
"Tourism has a very close relationship with MSMEs. Nationally, about 60 percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product is supported by MSMEs and this sector also absorbs about 97 percent of the workforce. Therefore, according to the direction of Danantara, the development of tourism must go hand in hand with the empowerment of MSMEs so that economic growth can provide greater benefits for the community," said Nixon, in his statement, Tuesday, June 23.
Nixon explained, through the Beyond Mortgage transformation, BTN continues to expand its role from a housing financing bank to a development partner that presents various financial solutions for the community, business world, and local governments. This synergy is also part of BTN's efforts in implementing the Danantara strategic direction to consolidate the strength of state-owned assets to create optimal added value for national and regional economic development.
In the last two years, BTN has collaborated with approximately 58 district and city governments in various regions of Indonesia as part of efforts to strengthen regional economic development.
As a follow-up to the cooperation with the Samosir Regency Government, BTN will expand access to productive financing for MSMEs through various financing schemes, including People's Business Loans (KUR) and Property Credit Program (KPP), as well as encouraging the digitization of transactions so that business actors can grow and rise in class.
BTN is also ready to support the development of health services by providing various banking solutions for Dr. Hadrianus Sinaga Hospital, ranging from transaction services, *payroll*, QRIS *Merchant*, to financing support for the development of facilities and investment in health equipment according to the needs of the hospital. On the other hand, BTN will strengthen collaboration with the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) of Samosir Regency to support increasingly efficient and digitized regional financial management.
In addition to providing financing solutions, BTN is also exploring various collaborations to support sustainable regional development. Among them, through cooperation with universities in the preparation of waste management solutions in tourist areas, the promotion of Samosir's flagship products such as coffee and weaving through various national events, to opening up opportunities for cooperation in the field of human resource development.
"BTN wants to be present not only as a financing institution, but as a regional development partner. We want to build an interconnected ecosystem, ranging from the tourism sector, MSMEs, public services to human resource development so that the benefits of economic growth can be felt sustainably," said Nixon.
Meanwhile, Samosir Regent Vandiko T. Gultom said that cooperation with BTN is a strategic step in strengthening regional development through the improvement of public services, strengthening the MSME sector, and expanding access to financial services for the community.
According to Vandiko, the scope of cooperation agreed upon includes the provision of banking services for the Samosir Regency Government, banking solutions for the Dr. Hadrianus Sinaga Hospital, and cooperation with the Cooperative, UMKM and Manpower Service in expanding access to financing for micro, small and medium business actors.
One of the implementations of this cooperation is the interest subsidy program for credit for MSMEs supported by the Samosir Regency Government. Through this scheme, MSMEs who have ID cards and run businesses in Samosir Regency can obtain financing access with a ceiling of up to IDR 100 million and a maximum tenor of three years. The interest subsidy is provided by the Samosir Regency Government through the APBD in accordance with applicable regulations.
"This credit interest subsidy program is one of the priority programs of the Samosir Regency Government. We appreciate BTN's support in channeling the financing so that it can help the community, especially MSMEs, to develop their business," said Vandiko.
Vandiko also appreciated BTN's quick response in realizing this cooperation. According to him, in just about a month since the initial discussion was carried out, the memorandum of understanding and cooperation agreement had been successfully signed.
"We welcome this cooperation and appreciate BTN's quick response. In just about a month since the initial discussion, today the memorandum of understanding and cooperation agreement can be signed. We hope that this cooperation will be followed up immediately through a cooperation agreement so that the benefits can be felt immediately by the people of Samosir Regency," said Vandiko.
He also hopes that BTN can immediately expand its presence in Samosir Regency so that the community has more banking service options and easier access to financing to support regional economic growth.
Through this collaboration, BTN and the Samosir Regency Government hope to strengthen the inclusive regional development ecosystem through strengthening the tourism sector, increasing the competitiveness of MSMEs, digitizing public services, expanding access to financial services, and developing sustainable economies in the Lake Toba area.
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