Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Wants Private Companies to Work Together to Overcome Poverty in Villages

Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Yandri Susanto made a working visit to South Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province, Sunday. (11/10/2024). ANTARA/HO-PR Ministry of Villages

BENGKULU - Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto admitted that he wanted private companies in various regions in Indonesia to join in synergizing in developing villages to overcome poverty.

"Private companies are considered as solution partners so that they are able to invest in the welfare of village residents," said Mendes at the Socialization of Strengthening BUMDes Institutions in Palak Siring Village, Kedurang District, South Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu, Antara, Sunday, November 10.

The solution partners for the welfare of village residents, he said, include in infrastructure development, such as building village roads, bridges, village markets, and other supporting facilities in the village.

"I will also make many oil palm plantations in Sumatra have to cooperate with villages. Villages must not be spectators if a company enters this area. Not allowed," he said.

Mendes Yandri also invited village governments to map potential that can encourage economic growth in the community to then be partnered with the private sector.

According to him, the private sector often has expertise and technology that the village government does not have. They often bring sophisticated knowledge and equipment to infrastructure projects, which not only guarantee the quality of the infrastructure built, but also save time and costs in the long run.

"Therefore, please, Mr. Acting Regent, try to record the potential of each village in South Bengkulu. God willing, I will find a way out. So that South Bengkulu is on par with other regions," he said.

According to him, when villages do not progress, this condition will have an impact on Indonesia as a whole, which will also not experience progress. "Because seventy-three percent of the population (in Indonesia) is in villages. More than two hundred million people are in villages," he said again.

Yandri also said that partnerships between private companies and villages must be mutually beneficial. Private companies get recognition for their contributions to society, while villages get much-needed infrastructure.

Therefore, he said that forming partnerships with the private sector is crucial to spur the development of quality infrastructure in villages, so as to produce a sustainable environment and community prosperity.

"So please pray and support, ladies and gentlemen, especially South Bengkulu, Bengkulu Province in general, please make the government's program, namely food self-sufficiency, a success," he said.