Mendes PDT Receives Kuwaiti Ambassador to Discuss Village Development and Economic Cooperation

Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, received a visit from the Ambassador of Kuwait, Khalid Jassim Alyassin, at his office at the Ministry of Villages PDT in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/8). During the meeting, Khalid Jassim Alyassin stated that diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Indonesia officially began in 1968. According to him, the relationship between the two countries must be further strengthened through formal cooperation between the governments of Kuwait and Indonesia.

Additionally, Kuwait has private institutions or organisations that have collected funds in Kuwait which are donated to other countries. The assistance provided by these organisations is used to improve the welfare of orphans, build Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), build mosques, and provide boats to fishermen so that they can earn an income and live decent lives.

‘These Kuwaiti associations donate to various separate regions across Indonesia. Because Indonesia is geographically very large, we have already addressed this matter. We also build villages, including schools, mosques, and other facilities, in villages in regions such as Sumatra, Java, and other areas,’ said Khalid Jassim in his statement on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

Responding to this, Yandri expressed his highest appreciation because Kuwait has provided direct assistance to villages and pesantren in Indonesia, including places of worship whose benefits are greatly felt by village communities.

Yandri then conveyed that the number of villages in Indonesia is very large, namely 75,266 with various potentials. From these 75,266 villages, his ministry has created 12 village development actions, including the Red and White Village Cooperative, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUM Desa), export villages, tourism villages, and others.

According to him, villages currently still require many places of worship, educational facilities, health facilities, and human resource development.

‘There are thematic villages focused on food security, such as laying hen villages, broiler chicken villages, catfish villages, tilapia villages, and others. We hope for concrete cooperation in developing villages in Indonesia, both in terms of village potential and human resources,’ said Yandri.

Furthermore, Yandri stated that villages currently play an important role because President Prabowo Subianto has placed villages in the sixth Asta Cita, which is to build from the villages and from the bottom up for economic equality and poverty eradication.

For this reason, he hopes that in the future there will be formal cooperation between the governments of Indonesia and Kuwait, and that Kuwaiti institutions or associations can cooperate with villages. According to him, many villages can be developed into economic activities such as export villages and tourism villages.

‘So that the community can prosper, in addition to building mosques and schools. Villages are now very much a priority for us to develop, so collaboration with friendly countries such as Kuwait is highly anticipated,’ Yandri expressed.

For information, also present accompanying Yandri at the meeting were Secretary General of the Ministry of Villages PDT Taufik Madjid, Inspector General of the Ministry of Villages PDT Masyhudi, Director General of PEID Tabrani, Director General of PDP Nugroho Setijo Nagoro, Director General of PPDT Samsul Widodo, Special Staff to the Minister Muhammad Afif Zamroni and Fahad At-Tamimi.