JAKARTA — The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes PDT) agreed on the preliminary review of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indonesia Research Institute Japan (IRIJ) virtually on Monday (November 2, 2026). The meeting was convened to explore strategic cooperation in human resource (HR) development, village potential mapping, investment facilitation, and technology transfer.

The virtual session chaired by the Cooperation Team from the Bureau of Planning and Cooperation was attended by representatives from the Legal Bureau, relevant Echelon I work units, and the IRIJ management team. According to the Cooperation Team, this meeting served as a follow-up action to the formal proposal submitted by IRIJ to align perspectives regarding document substance prior to advancing to the finalization phase.

During the presentation, IRIJ outlined its institutional track record as a research entity actively facilitating investment and strategic partnerships across Japan and Indonesia. IRIJ noted that extensive village economic potential across Indonesia remains unconnected to international markets or foreign investors. Consequently, IRIJ proposed acting as a bridge connecting Indonesia's rural potential with Japanese partners, drawing on its established experience across fisheries sector mapping, investor facilitation, cold storage provision, workforce training, and mobility and technology exploration.

The draft review process was led by the Legal Bureau of Kemendes PDT, examining each article to ensure full alignment with the ministry's statutory duties and functions. The Legal Bureau recommended eliminating terms with commercial connotations within the objectives clause, underscoring that Kemendes PDT is a non-profit government institution. Additionally, clauses concerning the scope of cooperation, HR capacity building, and the overall MoU title were adjusted to maintain a neutral, flexible framework suitable for an overarching umbrella agreement.

Various Echelon I work units within Kemendes PDT contributed technical inputs during the meeting. The Agency for Development and Information of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions (BPI) highlighted opportunities for data exchange and joint policy paper formulation, while the Directorate General for Acceleration of Disadvantaged Regions Development (Ditjen PPDT) emphasized prioritizing target loci in disadvantaged areas. Furthermore, the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) noted that specific training targets for rural residents, village development officers (pendamping desa), and BUM Desa managers will be articulated in detail during subsequent operational stages.

Kemendes PDT, through the Bureau of Planning and Cooperation, affirmed that this MoU functions as a general legal umbrella, whereas operational execution details will be formulated within separate Cooperation Agreements (Perjanjian Kerja Sama / PKS). Meeting deliberations concluded with consensus on four primary scope areas:

1. Exchange of data and information;

2. Development of village and disadvantaged region potential;

3. Partnership development with Japanese entities; and

4. Human resource capacity building.

Moving forward, the revised draft MoU will be transmitted to the IRIJ legal team for internal review prior to proceeding to PKS drafting and scheduling the ceremonial signing.

Text and photo: Muhammad Ainul Yaqin