Jakarta, April 28 -- The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions forged a partnership with community organization Barisan 8 Center to boost rural development, targeting the emergence of 5,000 export-oriented villages across Indonesia.

Villages Minister Yandri Susanto described the cooperation as part of the government's concrete steps to position rural communities as subjects, not mere objects, in development programs.

"The government cannot work alone in developing villages; all elements need to play an active role," he remarked after the signing of a memorandum of understanding formalizing the collaboration in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He underscored the importance of institutions and organizations providing guidance ...