Aceh – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reiterated his commitment to encouraging the development of Indonesian Human Resources (HR), especially in Aceh, when inaugurating the AMANAH Building in the Aceh Industrial Area (KIA) Ladong, Aceh Besar, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. This building is the center of the AMANAH Youth Creative Hub, an initiative aimed at encouraging the creativity of young people in Aceh in facing global competition.
On that occasion, President Jokowi expressed his admiration for the products produced by AMANAH. “I am truly amazed by the innovation and creativity of Aceh’s young people, especially in the fashion sector, especially Muslim fashion. Their products are very classy, even on par with world products,” said President Jokowi. He highlighted the bag products made by Aceh’s young people which are sold for only Rp600 thousand, even though their quality can compete with products priced at tens of millions in the global market. “The bags are very neat, the designs are good, and I think the price can be increased,” he added.
Not only bags, President Jokowi also highlighted the potential of Aceh coffee and patchouli as superior commodities that must receive special attention. “Aceh coffee has been famous for a long time, and patchouli from Aceh is the best in the world,” said President Jokowi. He hopes that the regional government can focus on developing these two commodities to increase the competitiveness of local products in the international market.
The Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Police General (ret.) Prof. Dr. Budi Gunawan, SH, M.Sc., Ph.D, also provided his views on the important role of AMANAH in the development of the economy and creativity in Aceh. According to Budi Gunawan, to date, 20,256 young people from Aceh have joined the AMANAH Youth Creative Hub, and the superior products produced, such as patchouli, have penetrated the global market, especially in France, the center of the world’s perfume industry. “Aceh’s patchouli products are the best in the world, and many large perfume manufacturers depend on patchouli from Aceh,” he explained.
Budi Gunawan also emphasized that the success of this program is the result of President Jokowi’s direct direction. “All the progress made by these young people of Aceh is the fruit of the thoughts and guidance of the President. AMANAH will always be remembered as his mandate for a more prosperous and advanced future of Aceh,” he added.
President Jokowi hopes that similar initiatives can be expanded to all provinces in Indonesia through synergy between the central and regional governments, as well as support from the State Intelligence Agency. “The leap that Aceh has achieved through AMANAH must continue to be honed and developed. I really appreciate this initiative, and hope that in all provinces there will be Creative Hubs like in Aceh,” concluded President Jokowi.
