VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo told ministries and institutions to implement an integrated and solid strategy in growing the village economy and mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Jokowi, in a closed meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, asked the ministries and institutions not to carry out sectoral programs independently and to complement one another.

"If we do not integrate it, we would not see the results. Everything should be in a solid and integrated grand strategy," President Jokowi said at a meeting on the Acceleration of Village Economic Improvement.

President Jokowi asks that rural economic development must also coincide with poverty alleviation programs.

Rural economic growth must be a concern because rural areas are now an economic buffer for big cities after the reverse flow of population movement from cities to villages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is a momentum to reinstall, improve, and also carry out reforms regarding the big strategy in transforming the village economy," President Jokowi said.

The President gave an example that the Ministry of Rural Affairs must ensure that they use the Village Fund budget for productive expenditure allocations.

Then add the rural basic infrastructure development program from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to the strategy.

He said the Ministry of Transportation could plan and build rural connectivity. The Ministry of Social Affairs can also focus on handling underprivileged residents. The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Micro Enterprises can focus on empowering small and micro business actors.

"This must be properly integrated," President Jokowi said. (Antaranews)