Village-Based Businesses Expected to Boost Economy
Jakarta. Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Minister, Puan Maharani, proposed that village-based businesses should be prioritized, because they have a strong potential to boost the local economy.
She recommended the continuation of the "one village, one product" program, where each village should strive to produce a single specialized product and makes a living from it.
"The 'one village, one product' program will spark strategic economic development from the villages to districts, and even to the whole country," Puan said while at a meeting at the ministry's office in Jakarta on Oct. 19.
The meeting, attended by ministers, tackled village development programs and issues of funding.
According to Puan, this year's funding scheme for villages is focused mainly on economic empowerment instead of infrastructure development.
"The scheme aims to eradicate poverty, train human resources and enhance the capacity of village government officials," she added.
Reportedly there were 74,754 villages that received the funds in installments.
Based on the medium-term national development plan, known as RPJMN, the government has targeted to upgrade 5,000 underdeveloped villages into developing villages. It also aims to develop 2,000 developing villages to become self sustaining, which will not require future funding.
"We will monitor progress based on our road map. This includes village development, minimum service standards for village government and empowerment of villagers," Puan said.
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