Developing Indonesia from rural areas to build an equitable economy forms part of President Prabowo Subianto’s eight core missions—collectively known as the Asta Cita—specifically highlighted in mission number 6.
"Recognizing the concrete economic potential of villages, the government is working to strengthen them through various national economic programs," Iskandar remarked at a national seminar on Indonesia's 2026 economic projections in Jakarta on Thursday.
He pointed out that despite their vast economic potential, Indonesia’s villages remain poverty hot spots. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), he said, the nation has 23.85 million poor people and 2.38 million in extreme poverty, with half living in rural regions.
Bearing that in mind, the minister emphasized the urgency for the government to take measures to guide rural communities to boost their productivity and income while assisting them in seizing business opportunities.
On that note, he underlined that the government has rolled out the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) programs and other initiatives designed to build the capacity of farmers.
The KDMP program has led to the establishment of over 82 thousand village cooperatives designed to boost rural economies by operating seven key facilities: grocery stores, pharmacies, clinics, management offices, savings and loan service outlets, warehouses, and logistics infrastructure.
Iskandar added that village empowerment initiatives also include strengthening rural value chains, improving access to financing, upgrading production facilities, and widening the market reach of local commodities.
He asserted that synergy among ministries is essential for ensuring that all these intervention measures run effectively nationwide.
The minister also pointed to Islamic boarding schools as potential key contributors to rural economic growth, citing their capacity to process agricultural commodities.
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Translator: Tri M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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