President Jokowi Praises Al-Ittifaq Boarding School for Growing Agricultural Business

President Jokowi inspects agricultural products at the Al-Ittifaq Islamic Boarding School, Bandung regency, West Java province, Monday (0306). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Lalily Rachev)

During his visit to Cooperative of Al-Ittifaq Islamic Boarding School, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Monday (03/06) praised the agriculture-based business model adopted by the Islamic Boarding School.

“The planning of business model applied by Al-Ittifaq Boarding School is incredible. We can take it as an example and a role model. It is worth imitating,” President Jokowi said in his remarks after the visit.

In this regard, the President encouraged other Islamic Boarding Schools across the country to adopt the same business model in managing agricultural products.

According to the President, Al-Ittifaq can also serve as a holding [company] in the agriculture-based business.

“Islamic Boarding Schools in Solo Raya, Riau, East Java, and Lampung can imitate the business model with Al-Ittifaq as the holding company,” he said, adding that starting a holding is necessary when running a business.

“It took me seven years for running a holding in Jakarta. The company was not able to export products yet back then. I learned the business for seven years,” he added.

On that occasion, the President also revealed that Head of Al-Ittifaq Boarding School is open to knowledge and experience sharing with other Islamic Boarding Schools.

“Earlier, the Head of Al-Ittifaq said that he is open to collaboration since the boarding school production is inadequate to fulfill the current market demand,” the President said.

Despite the business’s success, Al-Ittifaq still needs assistance with some technical difficulties on the ground. Thus, the President urged relevant parties to help solve them.

“I urge Bank Indonesia, President Director of PT Medco Mr. Hilmi, and Minister of SMEs to assist with financing problems so we can develop the same business models we saw previously,” he said.

Closing his remarks, the President said that he will invite business actors from Cooperative of Al-Ittifaq Islamic Boarding School to the Palace within the next six months because he wants to know more about the progress of the agricultural business.

“I will invite you to the Palace six months from now. InsyaAllah, there will be a progress comparing to our meeting today,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (RIF/MMB)