Minister of Villages Calls for Unity During Ramadhan to Advance Rural Development
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Minister of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, has called upon all ministry personnel and national stakeholders to harness Ramadhan as an opportunity to maintain unity and cohesion in realising rural development across the country.
“Therefore, once again, through this gathering and joint breaking of the fast, I urge all of us, I appeal to our hearts — let us maintain our spirit, preserve our unity, and nurture our solidarity,” said Minister Yandri during remarks at a ministerial gathering and breaking-of-fast ceremony at the Ministry of Villages office in Jakarta on Monday.
He emphasised that the development of Indonesia’s 75,266 villages cannot be achieved by a select few, such as the government alone. Rural development, he stressed, requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and coordination.
“Therefore, care, awareness, unity, and collaboration are the key words,” said Minister Yandri.
The Ministry of Villages has partnered with various stakeholders, including Commission V of the People’s Consultative Assembly, the private sector, media organisations, and the World Bank, to execute numerous rural development programmes. These initiatives are outlined in 12 strategic action plans.
The twelve action plans include revitalisation of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), food-secure and self-sufficient villages, energy and water self-sufficiency in villages, and value-addition for village flagship products. Additional plans focus on export-oriented village development, youth leaders in rural areas, and synchronisation of ministerial and institutional programmes for rural communities.
The eighth action plan addresses village digitalisation and the development of rural tourism. Subsequent plans include increased rural investment, cooperation with national cooperatives and foreign investors, and strengthened oversight and governance of rural development initiatives.
The eleventh and twelfth action plans concern climate-resilient villages and disaster-resistant rural development, as well as accelerated development of underdeveloped regions.
Minister Yandri, a former deputy chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly, reminded staff that the ministry bears the honourable responsibility of developing villages.
“I never tire of calling upon all of us to continue doing our best. I say that we are people entrusted with a most honourable mandate, and we want to do our best,” he concluded.