E. Timor gets Rp 24b fund

E. Timor gets Rp 24b fund

DILI, East Timor: The government has channeled a Rp 24 billion
(US$8.2 million) fund to help poor families in 442 villages start
their own businesses, State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono
said Saturday.

The fund, known as Kredit Usaha Kesejahteraan Rakyat (People's
Prosperity Business Credit), or Kukesra for short, is part of the
government's poverty alleviation program to help nearly five
million families across the country.

The fund will be directly channeled to poor families through
Bank BNI46 which works together with PT Pos Indonesia, the state
post office company, whose branches are spread all over the
country.

Families will initially receive a modest Rp 20,000 (US$6.70)
loan, which will multiply each time it is repaid within four
months, Haryono said. (33)