Astra Supports Indonesia T20 Forum to Formulate Solutions for Multidimensional Poverty

JAKARTA: Astra supports the Think20 (T20) Indonesia Side Event organized by T20 Task Force 5 (TF5), Faculty of Economics and Business University of Indonesia (FEB UI) and Oxford University Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) to discuss issues on poverty, inequality, human capital and well-being. This forum concluded a series of discussions held by TF5, part of the T20, and was held hybrid at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Jakarta, today (7/27).

With the theme “Multidimensional Poverty in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Commitment to Reducing Poverty in All Its Forms”, this event brought together experts and academics to find solutions to the challenges of poverty issues faced by G20 nations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summit dialogue was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia Prof. Suahasil Nazara, Rector of University of Indonesia Prof. Ari Kuncoro, Dean of FEB UI Teguh Dartanto, Ph.D., TF5 Lead Chair Dr. Asep Suryahadi and Director of OPHI Oxford University Sabina Alkire. They discussed multidimensional poverty in TF5 and how the multidimensional poverty measurement index could be incorporated into public policy.

“The government is committed to focusing on poverty alleviation, especially multidimensional poverty from the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that the poor and vulnerable must be protected from the effects of the pandemic. We have increased social assistance to protect the poor from the impact of the pandemic, for households and businesses (MSMEs),” said Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia Suahasil Nazara.

Astra’s participation in this event is in line with Astra’s social contribution to alleviating poverty and reducing social inequality. To date, Astra has helped the community to rise and prosper through its many sustainable social contributions.

“Through this collaboration, we hope to be part of the solution to the challenges of community well-being in Indonesia. Astra will also continuously encourage the economic improvement of the Indonesian people through programs such as fostering entrepreneurial activities that are supply chain-based, regional-based and community-based with an emphasis on sustainability to optimize impacts and benefits for the community,” said Astra Chief of Corporate Affairs Riza Deliansyah.

As a form of support to the T20, Dharma Bakti Astra Foundation (Yayasan Dharma Bakti Astra/YDBA) Advisory Board member Tonny Sumartono also spoke at the event. Accompanied by YDBA Executive Secretary Ida R. M. Sigalingging, he shared his thoughts on the role of the private sector in realizing self-reliant community entrepreneurship through coaching and empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, the results hoped to be achieved in this meeting include increasing cross-border communication between experts and policymakers in the field of poverty and development inequality in G20 countries and encouraging efforts to develop linkages between academic research and public policy.

By bringing together experts and academics to find solutions to the challenges of poverty issues faced by G20 countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this forum would produce strong, independent and inclusive research-based policy recommendations to be considered by the leaders of G20 nations in the form of T20 Communique.

T20 Task Force 5 (Inequality, Human Capital and Well-Being) recommendations

Aimed at bridging cross-border research collaborations that focus on multidimensional poverty, TF5 produced several recommendations through this event. First, the consumption poverty measure can be enriched with a multidimensional poverty measure to monitor Indonesia’s achievements, especially Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 – end poverty in all its forms everywhere. Second, the multidimensional measure is expected to be a measuring tool for Indonesia’s development achievements and a tool for establishing evidence-based policies in poverty alleviation.

TF5 hoped the formulation resulting from this event can contribute to the development of poverty reduction policies in G20 countries.

For further information, please contact:
Boy Kelana Soebroto
Head of Corporate Communications
PT Astra International Tbk
Ph.021-508-43-888

Niken Kusumawardhani
Coordinator TF5
SMERU Research Institute
[email protected]

Dr. Putu Geniki Lavinia Natih
International Office, FEB UI
[email protected]

About Astra:

PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business divisions: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra Group conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 240 companies, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and was supported by more than 188,000 employees, as of December 2021.

As one of the largest national business groups in Indonesia today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Astra’s business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes, namely Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered its eleventh year, and has given recognition awards to 493 young Indonesians, consisting of 81 national level recipients and 412 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 133 Kampung Berseri Astra and 930 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiatives in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@satu_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@satu_Indonesia).