There are 20 Balkondeses, which were sponsored by State-Owned Enterprises, in 20 villages around the sub district.
The 20 are Balkondes Bigaran, Balkondes Borobudur, Balkondes Giripurno (sponsored by the Temple Tourism Parks of Prabu Boko, Prambanan and Borobudur), Balkondes Bumiharjo (by PT PP/a state housing development company), Balkondes Candirejo (by state cement company of PT Semen Indonesia), and Balkondes Giritengah (by a state insurance company of PT Jasaraharja) .
Then, Balkondes Kembanglimus, Balkondes Sambeng (by a state hotel company of PT Patrajasa), Balkondes Karanganyar (by state bank Bank BTN), Balkondes Karangrejo (by state gas company of PGN), Balkondes Kebonsari (by a state developer company of PT Hutama Karya), Balkondes Kenalan (by state bank of Bank Mandiri), Balkondes Majaksingi Singkober Village (by state road construction company of PT Jasamarga), Balkondes "Desa Gade" Ngargogondo ( by a state mortgage company of PT Pegadaian).
Then, Balkondes Ngadiharjo (by a state electricity company of PLN), Balkondes Duta Menor Tanjungsari Village (by state bank of BRI Bank), Balkondes Tegalarum (by a state airport company of PT Angkasa Pura II), Balkondes Tuksongo (by a state telecommunicatins company of PT Telkom), Balkondes Wanurejo (by state Bank BNI), and Balkondes Wringinputih (by a state oil/gas company PT Pertamina).
Why is there a need to introduce the Balkondeses to hundreds of women figures from several countries?
It was Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno who introduced and invited delegates to the event which is jointly organized by the ICW and the Indonesian Women`s Kongres (Kowani) in cooperation with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, in which 35 state-owned companies including state Antara news agency are involved in supporting the event.
According to Rini, the Village Economic Centers are one of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises` programs aimed at improving the life quality of rural people around the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park in Magelang district, Central Java Province.
"When I visited Borobodur, I traveled to some villages around the temple and I saw the villages remain very poor. Although we have a very beautiful historical site that has attracted people around the world, the local people do not get any benefits," said Rini.
Such a reality motivated managements of the state own enterprises to initiate helping construct homestay facilities in the villages as part of their corporate social responsibility programs.
Thus, local and foreign tourists can stay at the homestays and feel the atmosphere of the villages around Borobudur Temple, while the villagers gain economic benefits.
"They certainly can get income. Until now, people in the villages around the Borobudur Temple continue to make improvements," she explained.
There are about 200 rooms in the homestay facilities. Tourists can enjoy variety of different activities and buy various local products.
Balkondeses are also created as a window for the regional economy. They provide space for the village administrations or the community to develop the economic potentials in the villages, and enjoy prime products.
One of many reasons for State-Owned Enterprises to create Balkondeses are to boost tourism in Indonesia, in accordance with the Indonesian government`s programs.
Through Balkondeses, the community, especially the villagers, will be prepared to provide extraordinary services for tourists.
The increase in the number of tourists will benefit the people in the villages.
This program will also promote tourist destinations around Borobudur.
International and local tourists who stay in Balkondeses not only enjoy the village life but also take active parts in environment conservation through management of economic potentials, cultural heritage and ecotourism.
According to Deputy Chairman for Services of the Balkondeses Panca Rudolf Sarangu, the construction of Balkondeses is one of many evidences of the presence of State-Owned Enterprises in the country.
The delegations of the 35th ICW General Assembly will have a special impression because the village life around Borobudur Temple, one of big Buddhist temples in the world, is not found in their countries.
In the mean time, the delegations are expected to inspire local people to be better businesspersons.
For example, many kinds of pottery products which are produced by women in Klipoh Hamlet, Karanganyar Village, Borobudur sub district, which have been running from generations to generations, can grow rapidly.
Moreover, the Klipoh pottery craft is one example of economic products and local wisdom that strengthen the tourism potentials around Borobudur.
Klipoh Pottery is an icon for Borobudur Temple tourism attraction because the trace of the women`s pottery craftsmanship is carved in Borobudur Temple`s walls.
Reporting by Budi Setiawanto
Editing by Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani, Bambang Purwanto
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
