Empowering Islamic Boarding Schools, Erick Thohir: There Are 46 Who Have Participated In The Pertashop Program

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of SOEs)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir revealed that 46 Islamic boarding schools have participated in the Pertashop program as of this September. This number will continue to be increased to 2,000 pesantren.

Pertashop is a program from Pertamina that opens opportunities for areas far from Pertamina's distribution agencies such as gas stations to open energy access to surrounding residents.

"Alhamdulillah, there are already many Islamic boarding schools, yesterday this month alone 46 Islamic boarding schools received Pertashop," he said during the online discussion 'Bangkit Together', Tuesday, September 28.

Erick said that Pertashop was in collaboration with Islamic boarding schools so that the pesantren economy could revive. So that the pesantren can be independent.

"We will continue to encourage this up to 10,000 Pertashop, we hope there are 1,000-2,000 Islamic boarding schools that become partners," he said.

Furthermore, Erick also claimed to want to encourage economic balance. Because, Erick doesn't want the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer during this COVID-19 pandemic.

"But there must be intervention from all of us taking sides. Therefore, Pertashop itself is trying to work together with Islamic boarding schools whose economies are declining so that Islamic boarding schools can be independent. And also regional entrepreneurs who have been under pressure due to COVID-19. We must continue to create new entrepreneurs, " he said.

Previously, SOE Minister Erick Thohir said the construction of 10,000 units of small-scale vehicle fuel filling or Pertashop by PT Pertamina (Persero) in the next three years was to help create job opportunities for the community.

Pertashop itself as a small-scale Pertamina fuel distribution agency has a mission to target three clusters. First, creating new entrepreneurs, especially in the regions, as development agents who have a strategic role in supporting national economic growth.

The second cluster of Pertashop is to increase the role of Islamic boarding schools, not only as places of Islamic education but also as centers for entrepreneurial development to improve the people's economy.

The third cluster is to improve the welfare of village or local communities through the professional management of Village Owned Enterprises or BUMDes.