The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions has partnered with state-run Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) to strengthen rural economies through sharia-compliant banking initiatives. The collaboration aims to expand access to Islamic financial services and support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in villages across Indonesia.
The partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on optimizing sharia banking services and products. The signing ceremony was held in Jakarta and attended by Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto.
Minister Susanto stated that the cooperation supports Objective Number Six of President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita agenda, which focuses on driving national development from rural areas. He expressed confidence that the MoU would contribute positively to village progress nationwide.
As part of the Asta Cita framework, the government has rolled out several village-based initiatives, including the Red and White Village Cooperatives program and the Free Nutritious Meals program. The minister emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness of these programs to ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level.
He also highlighted BSI’s role as a public financial institution capable of supporting government initiatives by extending their reach to rural and underserved communities. According to Susanto, sharia banking can serve as a key driver of economic empowerment through ethical and inclusive financial solutions.
The minister further stressed the importance of strong collaboration among all stakeholders involved in village development, including government institutions, the private sector, universities, and youth. Such cooperation, he said, is essential to realizing the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Susanto stated that development from the village level is central to achieving equitable economic growth and poverty eradication, in line with the objectives outlined in the Asta Cita agenda.