Jakarta, 8 May 2017 –

Telkomsel launched CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program 'Baktiku Negeriku'; a community assistance program with focus on improving the quality of life of people in various remote areas in Indonesia through technology, community empowerment and education. This program involves direct participation from Telkomsel's employees, and including activities such as employee volunteering, green movement, digital center facility development, and infrastructure development.

The launch was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Telkomsel’s Director of Human Capital Management, Irfan Tachrir and Chairman of Telkomsel Workers Union(SEPAKAT), Budi Mulia, witnessed by the President Director of Telkomsel, Ririek Adriansyah. SEPAKAT is a strategic partner in the implementation of Employee Volunteering, whereby employees can play an active role in providing assistance to the community. The program is also expected to support the establishment of harmonious industrial relations between employees and the company.

President Director of Telkomsel, Ririek Adriansyah, said, "As a company that operates very closely to the community, Telkomsel wants to give more benefits to their surroundings. Baktiku Negeriku's CSR program is one of Telkomsel's supports to develop the community. We do hope this will enhance the community’s ability to compete so that in the future they can get a better standard of living.”

Baktiku Negeriku is being prepared since May 2017 and field implementation will begin in July 2017 in eight remote areas on the island of Sumatra, Java, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua. Selected sites are areas with relatively low living standards but have unique natural resources and local wisdom.

This program includes mentoring program for local youth about the utilization of information technology by involving youth group in the village (Karang Taruna). This training is aimed to enable young people to act as 'change agents' who will lead local communities to a better life by utilizing technology. In addition, Telkomsel employees also provide training on Digital Citizenship and other practical skills. Through this program, Telkomsel also initiated a green movement and action of nature conservation and ecosystem with local people to face environmental issues such as climate change.

This sustainable growth program will also undertake the construction and renovation of public facilities such as health centers, media and education centers, sanitation and clean water facilities, as well as small and medium enterprise (SME) centers. This will be done through collaboration with various related stakeholders such as the local government, the army, and others.

"This CSR program is complete because we involve the direct participation of employees to come down to the community and we hope this program can strengthen the communication between Telkomsel employees and the local people," explained Ririek.

On the other hand, to improve people's understanding of technology, Baktiku Negeriku will also build a digital center with Wi-Fi access. In this place the residents can learn the use of the Internet by using computer equipment and smartphones accompanied by mentors and change agents who came from local young people who had previously received training from Telkomsel. It is expected to inspire the young people to re-build his village with all the potential and local wisdom it has.