In a recent address at the 2025 Retreat of Regional Heads at the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, highlighted the urgent need for collaborative efforts in combating extreme poverty. Iskandar stressed the importance of unified and coordinated actions to eradicate extreme poverty, calling on all regional leaders to join forces and accelerate progress on this critical issue.
Iskandar underscored that the central government has already implemented various initiatives to address extreme poverty, including enhancing the distribution of social assistance, creating employment opportunities, providing energy subsidies to vulnerable populations, and improving the quality of social services. However, he emphasized that the effective execution of these measures requires strong support and cooperation from regional authorities.
“As this is a national imperative, it is crucial that we are all aligned in our efforts to elevate the living standards of our citizens and lift them out of poverty,” Iskandar emphasized to the audience.
Furthermore, Iskandar emphasized the necessity of collaboration between central and regional governments in establishing food self-sufficiency. Supporting Iskandar’s stance, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman highlighted the critical role of such partnerships in enhancing Indonesia’s food security and preventing potential food crises.
Sulaiman stressed the essential nature of cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and local government officials, including district heads, governors, and mayors, in achieving food self-sufficiency. He mentioned that President Prabowo Subianto has set the goal for Indonesia to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, emphasizing the strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, the military, and the police to increase crop yields.
To fulfill the objective of food self-sufficiency, the Ministry of Agriculture is strategically working with the military and police to enhance crop production, including implementing measures to irrigate drought-affected agricultural areas nationwide.
As efforts to combat extreme poverty continue to evolve, it is evident that a unified approach involving both central and regional authorities is essential. By fostering collaboration and synergy between different levels of government, Indonesia can make significant strides towards eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring a brighter future for all its citizens. Let us all work together towards this common goal, standing united in our commitment to building a more equitable and prosperous society for generations to come.
