TEMPO.CO, NATIONAL INFO - Yandri Susanto, Indonesian Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Mendes PDT), recently reinforced his commitment to unlocking and optimizing village potential as a critical component in Indonesia’s progress. Yandri highlighted the need to harness the strengths of rural areas at the inauguration of the Edu Wisata Agrobisnis (Agrobusiness Educational Tourism) site in Sodong Village, Tigaraksa Subdistrict, Tangerang Regency, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. He praised Sodong Village as an example of promising potential that, with proper development, could bring substantial benefits to the community and economy.

“I will continue visiting villages across Indonesia to understand and help maximize their unique potential. What I see here in Sodong Village is outstanding. I urge the regional leaders in Tangerang to survey each village, map out their distinctive capabilities, and capitalize on them,” he said. By emphasizing the importance of local strengths, Yandri hopes to create a network of self-sustaining villages that support the broader objective of national development.

Yandri’s vision includes transforming Sodong Village's educational tourism site into a vibrant hub for agritourism and sustainable agriculture. He believes that, beyond boosting the local economy, the Edu Wisata Agrobisnis project can serve as a model for educating visitors about sustainable farming practices, preserving local heritage, and offering valuable experiences in agro-tourism. “This edutourism project has the potential to enrich the community, provided there’s solid cooperation and collaboration among residents. The benefits can ripple through the entire village and beyond,” he said.

In addition to calling for active involvement from the community, Yandri encouraged local authorities to collaborate with Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and other key stakeholders. He suggested partnerships with nearby private companies, leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to develop Sodong’s edutourism project further. "With support from local companies and CSR programs, we can accelerate village development, making it sustainable and impactful for everyone,” he added.(*)

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News