"We keep encouraging efforts to empower BUMDs at the district/city and province levels so that they can carry out productive cooperation at the regional level (in an) easier (manner)," Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Harvick Hasnul Qolbi, said in Simpangyul village, West Bangka district, here on Friday.
According to him, productive BUMDs can reduce their dependence on regional budget support.
He advised BUMDs to develop a more open business pattern so that investors can find it easier to invest in them.
"The government continues to encourage and facilitate BUMDs in conducting business-to-business (B2B trade) so that investors can enter easily," he said.
B2B is a model of trade that connects producers and business entities, such as producers with wholesale stores.
"We encourage downstream businesses in the agricultural and plantation sectors to continue to grow by carrying out various promotions and building a wider marketing network," he said.
He also reminded all farmers that the government has stationed agricultural attachés in several cities overseas, such as in Rome, Tokyo, Washington, Helsinki, and Amsterdam.
Qolbi said that the attachés have been tasked with promoting the downstream agricultural products of Indonesia.
According to him, West Bangka has several flagship agricultural and plantation products, such as fruits and food crops, that can continue to be developed and become the mainstay of the local economy.
He said that for developing quality crops, the community will be provided with information, training, and counseling and get certain and just selling prices for their products.
"This needs synergy between regional, provincial, and central governments so that this development can run harmoniously," he added.
Translator: Donatus P, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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