Manado, Nov,1   2019 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday signed a Letter of Intent with the Bank Rakyat Indonesia Microfinance Center (BMC), to promote financial literacy and boost enterpreneurship skills among communities in eco-tourism and agro-maritime sectors.   

BMC is a research and consultacy Institution  founded and supported  by Bank Rakyat Indonesia,  Indonesia’s largest bank and provider of sustainable microfinance program .

Chief Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Pandjaitan witnessed the signing on the sidelines of the Archipelagic and Islands States (AIS) Forum Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia’s port city of Manado. Championed by the Indonesian Coordinating  Ministry for  Maritime Affairs, and with support from UNDP, the AIS Forum provides a platform for governments to collaborate with private sector, civil society, and academia, on climate change-themed and ocean protection initiatives.

Under the agreement BRI Microfinance Center  will provide training to boost  entrepreneurship, as well as enhance business and financial literacy, with a focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises. 

“Marine economy and eco-tourism are two sectors that can have a transformative impact on the sustainable development of Indonesia at national and local levels. Our planned partnership with BRI Microfinance Center will precisely contribute to such an impact. I am delighted that BRI Microfinance Center will help enhance financial literacy and entereprership skills among communities, which UNDP sees as important steps to help small business grow and to improve the lives of many Indonesian people , “said Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Resident Representative in Indonesia.

Indonesia is the second highest contributor of marine production in the world, and accounts for nearly 10 percent of the global fisheries employment. The Indonesian government has put a priority to develop Indonesia’s marine economy to generate a sustainable source of income and greater prosperity.

BRI  Microfinance Center  Director, Agus Rachmadi welcomed the first collaboration with UNDP,

“Using BRI Best practice in running microfinance program as well as developing micro, small and medium entreprises (MSMe) in Indonesia , we will be happy to collaborate  with UNDP in empowering  microfinance and entrepreneurship of the MSMEs in the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) said Mr. Agus Rachmadi.

It’s the second signing of a development partnership in as many days for UNDP during the AIS Forum which seeks to provide innovative solutions on climate change and oceanic issues.

BRI is Indonesia’s largest banks that run the world most sustainable microfinance program . BRI  specializes on micro, small-scale and medium entrreprizes (MSME).It success has already become the main world benchmarking and study on microfinance and MSMEs.

MEDIA CONTACT

UNDP Indonesia Communication Specialist, Tomi Soetjipto, suryo.tomi@undp.org

BRI Microfince Center (BMC): Nilam, Wida,Yamin,     contact@bmc.or.id