PAPUA – In Tanah Miring Work Unit (Uker), South Papua Province, a mantri or micro marketer from Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Agustina Etwiory, has succeeded in advancing the village economy and introducing banking products to the small community. As someone who has dedicated her life to helping people in remote areas, Agustina has made a big difference in boosting the local economy.
Agustina was born and raised in Merauke, a small town in West Papua. She started her life journey in the land of her birth. Before joining BRI in 2010 as a teller, Agustina worked in the Civil Service Police Unit.
As a Mantri in the Tanah Miring Unit, she had to face challenges that usually occur in remote areas.
Located on the outskirts of the city about 30-45 minutes away from the center of Merauke, her unit often triggers difficulties in various aspects. The road infrastructure, which is still mostly dirt, makes traveling even more difficult, especially when it rains.
However, these challenges do not dampen her spirit and courage to continue providing the best service for the people in the area.
“There are definitely challenges, such as finding debtors to become customers. Sometimes there is rejection, but after two or three visits they finally want to save. That is a source of pride for me,” Agustina said.
As Mantri, Agustina’s main task is to find customers for both savings and loans. In addition, she is also tasked with introducing various BRI products such as the People’s Business Credit (KUR) and the BRILink Agent’s panadai service to the community.
Under her guidance, several villages in the assisted area have become BRI-assisted villages. He actively assists and empowers business groups such as CV Barokah Sayur, a cluster of horticultural agricultural businesses in the village.
Assistance is also provided by BRI for CV Barokah Sayur in the form of financial literacy, agricultural counseling, and provision of agricultural machinery.
“They are enthusiastic and feel happy with the assistance provided. In fact, they want to show the community that they can produce better products,” Agustina said.
Agustina is determined to continue to be a bridge between BRI and small communities, helping them achieve economic independence. With hard work and dedication, Agustina has made a big difference in helping the welfare of the people in West Papua.
Continuing to step up as a bridge between the role and needs of the small community in West Papua is at the core of Agustina’s passion in her service.
