Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Government (Pemkot) through the Malang City Cooperatives, Industry, and Trade Service (Diskopindag) handed over business capital assistance to cigarette factory workers, Sunday (29/10/2023). Acting Mayor of Malang Dr. Ir. Wahyu Hidayat, MM was present and symbolically handed over the business capital assistance.
In his remarks, the Acting Mayor of Malang said that the assistance allocated from the Tobacco Excise Revenue Sharing Fund (DBHCHT) was one of them for empowering the industrial community. "Development must be more efficient and oriented towards the greatest benefit to the community, including in the DBHCHT budget. In principle, DBHCHT is prioritized for use in the fields of health, law enforcement, and community welfare," he explained.
Wahyu further revealed that the capital assistance is intended to improve the welfare of cigarette factory workers and foster an entrepreneurial spirit. Therefore, Wahyu hopes that this assistance can be utilized as well as possible. Not only capital assistance, these recipients also receive assistance in skills, management, marketing, and product packaging.
"It is hoped that all of you can become entrepreneurs so that you can improve welfare which will also have an impact on the economic conditions of Malang City. We know that the economic growth of Malang City in 2022 was the highest, up to 6,32 percent. The Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) also fell to 7,66 percent. Our poverty rate is also the second lowest in East Java at 4,26 percent," he explained.
Meanwhile, the Head of Diskopindag of Malang City, Dr. Eko Sri Yuliadi, S. Sos., MM said that the provision of capital assistance in the form of business facilities was carried out in two stages. The form of capital assistance provided is in the form of a catering culinary package, a cake culinary package, a barista package, a contemporary drink package, a fashion package, and a grocery package.
"There are a total of 938 recipients from ten cigarette factories in Malang City. For today there are 400 recipients, then assistance for 500 recipients, the rest will be given in the next stage which is planned to be implemented next week," explained Eko. (ari/yon)
