FAO aids rural banking

JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agreed yesterday to provide US$258,000 in technical assistance to improve Indonesia's rural banking services.

FAO country representative A.W. Jalil and Bank Indonesia's managing director Aulia Pohan signed the technical cooperation program agreement here yesterday.

The organization will assist BI in improving the efficiency of rural banks and other small financial institutions through their operational procedures and sound management information system.

The project will use FAO Macro banking system, a personal computer software for small banks and financial institutions.

The project, which will last 20 months, will also include training programs for local experts. (das)