JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, affirmed that the government's current development paradigm no longer views villages as passive objects, but rather as key active subjects and the primary foundation for national growth.

This paradigm shift was bolstered by the enactment of Law No. 6 of 2014 concerning Villages, marking a strategic turning point. The Village Law grants autonomy and authority to rural communities to independently govern local administration, manage budgets, and capitalize on local potential.

"In my view, Indonesia will advance if we advance and empower our villages. Hence, our tagline is: 'Build the Village, Build Indonesia.' By building the village, we automatically build Indonesia," Minister Yandri stated while flagging off the Astra Prosperous Village (Desa Sejahtera Astra) Expedition Team at Wisma Bisnis Indonesia, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).

Minister Yandri further detailed his Octahelix concept for village development across Indonesia, which centers on fostering synergies among all national elements. He emphasized that every stakeholder shares a responsibility to spur local economic growth at the village level.

Boosting rural economies represents the most fundamental step to maintaining balanced national development amidst rapid globalization. Unchecked urbanization, he warned, burdens major cities with overpopulation, traffic congestion, housing deficits, and employment shortages, while stripping rural areas of their productive workforce.

"If we neglect villages, fail to curb urban migration, ignore rural empowerment, and refrain from capitalizing on new economic sources in villages, Indonesia could eventually face the demographic realities Japan is experiencing today," Minister Yandri explained.

Minister Yandri called on all national elements to actively support the realization of President Prabowo's 6th Asta Cita (Aspiration). He described this point as crucial, serving as the core foundation for sustainable social justice and national economic stability.

Cross-sectoral collaboration remains the master key to rural development, as the future of villages can no longer rely solely on central, regional, or village governments, but demands active involvement from civil society and corporate partners.

"We owe our gratitude to President Prabowo for establishing the 6th Asta Cita—building from the village and from the bottom-up for economic equality and poverty eradication. This vision cannot be achieved in isolation; it requires deep collaboration," he concluded.

For context, the Astra Prosperous Village (Desa Sejahtera Astra / DSA) Expedition program comprises a series of field visits to explore, identify, and observe firsthand the local wisdom, economic potential, and community empowerment outcomes across villages mentored by PT Astra International Tbk.

Accompanying Minister Yandri at the event was Head of the Information Development Agency (BPI) Kemendes PDT, Mulyadin Malik, alongside President Director of Bisnis Indonesia Group, Arief Budisusilo, and Head of Corporate Communications at PT Astra International Tbk, Windy Riswantyo.

Photo: Mugi/Kemendes PDT 
Text: Dayat/Kemendes PDT