"The collaboration of central government and regional governments must have a similar agenda, focusing on responding to similar challenges on the field," Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar said.
He made the statement at the "Forum for Synergy of Policy and Implementation of Development and Empowerment of Village Communities, Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration Between the Central Government and the Regions" here on Tuesday.
He said that the number of very underdeveloped villages has dropped by 8,603 in the period since 2015. Initially, the number of very underdeveloped villages was 13,453. This year, it has reached 4,850.
Likewise, a reduction has also been seen in the number of underdeveloped villages, which currently stands at 7,154, down from 33,592 villages.
Iskandar noted that this success would not have been possible if there were no collaboration and synergy between the central government and regional governments, which can be seen in the village budget (APBDes) among other things.
The village budget in 2023 reached Rp124 trillion (around US$7.87 billion), with the contribution of the district and city governments pegged at Rp47 trillion (around US$2.98 billion) and provincial governments Rp4 trillion (around US$254.12 million).
The minister informed that the collaborative efforts between his ministry and regional governments until 2030 will still focus on fulfilling Village Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Meanwhile, from 2031 until 2045, the synergy will be prioritized for strengthening villages' position under the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision.
He said that synergy must be maintained on a daily basis through intensive communication between ministries and agencies at the central level with Regional Development Planning Agencies (Bappeda), Community and Village Empowerment Offices, and Transmigration Offices at the province, district, and city levels.
In relation to the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision, the ministry has several targets, including achieving zero percent very underdeveloped and underdeveloped villages, 100 percent developed and independent villages, and zero percent underdeveloped regions.
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Translator: Hana Dewi, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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