Mendes: Desa BRILiaN Strengthens Village Competitiveness and Economy

Purwokerto (ANTARA) - The Minister for Villages and Underdeveloped Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, stated that the Desa BRILiaN 2026 programme can strengthen village competitiveness and economies through community empowerment, institutional strengthening, and cross-sector collaboration.

“We appreciate BRI, which to date remains the overall champion in fostering villages across Indonesia, with more than 5,200 villages,” he said during the Kick Off for Desa BRILiaN 2026, held in a hybrid format at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, on Thursday.

According to him, the Desa BRILiaN programme aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita, particularly in building from the villages and from the bottom up for economic equality and poverty eradication.

“We are a superteam, not a superman. Therefore, all parties must be involved in village development,” said Minister Yandri, who attended virtually.

Meanwhile, the Group Head of Social Entrepreneurship and Incubation Division at PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, Evy Sulistyowati, stated that the Desa BRILiaN programme, implemented since 2020, represents BRI’s ongoing commitment to supporting village development based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The Desa BRILiaN programme aims to produce role models for village development through exemplary village leadership practices and a spirit of collaboration to optimise village potential,” she said.

She explained that the programme is implemented through four main pillars: strengthening Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and Village Merah Putih Cooperatives (KDMP), village digitalisation, sustainable development, and village innovation.