The Indonesian government has called on villages across the country to play a central role in achieving the national target of 8 percent economic growth in 2028–2029.
The contribution to economic expansion should not be viewed as coming only from major corporations, said Rafdinal, Director of Village Economic Institutional Development and Investment at the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration.
"We hope the largest share will come from villages," he said at a webinar titled "Understanding the Village Economic Institutional Ecosystem: Synergy Toward Farmers' Self-Reliance," on Monday.
He said the growth target, set by President Prabowo Subianto, can only be met if Indonesia's 75,265 villages succeed in driving economic activity.
Rafdinal noted that current development programs aim to turn rural areas into new centers of growth by strengthening local economic ecosystems, boosting productivity, promoting downstream processing, expanding village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), and enhancing human resources.
He added that rural economic strengthening aligns with the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, stressing that villages should no longer be viewed merely as development objects but as active agents supported by community participation.
"With the right combination of natural potential, human resources, and partnerships, villages can become the locomotive of the national economy," he said.
The ministry, he continued, is committed to reinforcing the rural economic ecosystem through 12 action plans, including revitalizing BUMDes, improving food security, developing village-based energy programs, promoting downstreaming of priority products, and integrating initiatives across ministries.
"What we need now are unified data, stronger collaboration, and the elimination of sectoral egos, so villages can evolve into sustainable centers of growth," he said.
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Translator: Tri Meilani Ameliya, Martha Herlinawati Simanjunta
Editor: Anton Santoso
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