IKN Authority Assists Local Communities' Capacity and Economic Independence
Poverty can be eradicated through human resource development; communities must innovate in wastra products to add value and competitiveness.
Penajam Paser Utara (ANTARA) - The Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN) is assisting in enhancing the capacity and economic independence of local communities in the vicinity of Indonesia’s new capital, which is being constructed in parts of Penajam Paser Utara Regency and Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province.
“Empowerment of communities in various sectors is being intensified,” said Alimuddin, Deputy for Social, Cultural, and Community Empowerment at the IKN Authority, on Thursday, when asked about community empowerment in Sepaku, Penajam Paser Utara.
One such initiative is the ongoing ecoprint training for craft practitioners, including batik artisans, as part of strengthening the creative economy sector in the IKN region, he continued.
The IKN Authority continues to identify and respond to various social dynamics in the community by providing targeted empowerment programmes, ensuring that communities are not only involved in physical development but also able to develop economic potential in their surroundings.
“Poverty can be eradicated through human resource development; communities must be able to innovate in wastra products to gain added value and competitiveness,” Alimuddin added.
The IKN Authority, together with Bank Indonesia (BI), continues to strengthen community empowerment in the IKN delineation area through the development of creative economy based on local potential, particularly in the wastra subsector, which is being developed as the identity of IKN’s creative economy.
“BI is committed to strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) through corporatisation, capacity building, and financing access,” said Aswin Gantina, Head of BI IKN.
BI first strengthens the institutions and capacity of UMKM, then connects them to financing access so that businesses can develop sustainably.
Training participants stated that the activity is very beneficial and adds to their knowledge, and they hope that mentoring can continue so that UMKM can grow.
The training provides new experiences that can be developed into business opportunities; according to one participant, Dewi Yulhermawati, everyone hopes the activities will be sustainable so that joint ventures can be formed at the sub-district/village level.