UGM Rector and Regent of Ogan Komering Ulu Timur Regency, South Sumatra Province, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which marked a cooperation between the two parties.
The MoU regulates the cooperation that will be done in infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, fisheries, research, community service, and resources development sectors.
“We are glad for signing a cooperation with UGM in several sectors which are important for us,” said the Regent of Ogan Komering Ulu Timur, H.M. Kholid MD, S.Sos., M.Si., during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Monday (8/1) at UGM main office. The sectors included in the MoU, according to Kholid, are the sectors which become the main concern of their government to be developed in the near future.
Kholid said his regency was facing various issues from limited infrastructure to agricultural production process. Therefore, through this cooperation, UGM is expected to provide technical support for the regional government to address those issues.
“After this, we will technically follow up what collaborative activities we can do in the future,” he added.
UGM Rector responded by stating UGM’s commitment to continue to contribute and increase its benefits for the community. The potentials owned by Ogan Komering Ulu Timur Regency, particularly the agricultural sector, are required to be developed in order to provide income for the regency and encourage their food self-dependency.
“It is not a simple issue because the regulation has to be improved at the national level. This issue needs to be addressed, thus the domestic production will be able to supply Indonesian food needs and reduce our food import,” said Panut.
Panut hopes the signing of the MoU can become the beginning of a productive and beneficial cooperation, particularly for increasing the prosperity of the community in Ogan Komering Ulu Timur Regency.
“The MoU has to be followed up by real activities that will give many benefits to the community. By signing the MoU, UGM is expected to give more contribution to the development of the regency,” he added.
The scope of the MoU includes cooperation on education, research, community service, environment and natural resources management, expert assistance, university development, as well as other activities that have been agreed by the two parties.