Latest news with #Agus
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
FinVolution's BRAVOSHOPS to Boost 1,500 SMEs across Asia, Debuts at UN Global Compact BRI Action Platform Summit
JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FinVolution Group (NYSE: FINV), a leading fintech company, has launched its "BRAVOSHOPS" pilot initiative to support small and micro businesses across pan-Asian countries. The Company introduced the initiative at a summit held in Indonesia on May 25, co-organized by the Government of Indonesia and the UNGC BRI Action Platform. The summit brought together global stakeholders to advance sustainable development across key sectors, including SME empowerment, green innovation, education, and energy transition. During the summit, members of the UN Global Compact unveiled nine flagship pilot initiatives, with FinVolution presenting its BRAVOSHOPS initiative as part of this global effort. Notably, FinVolution's BRAVOSHOPS initiative seeks to empower community-rooted small businesses that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and cultural heritage. The initiative builds on FinVolution's experience supporting over 70 small shops in China since 2023. Through a combination of physical upgrades, public engagement, and targeted financial support, the program enhances the visibility, functionality, and impact of participating stores. As part of its regional expansion, BRAVOSHOPS aims to empower at least 1,500 small businesses across China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other Asian countries between 2025 and 2030. The initiative reflects FinVolution's long-term commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods. Building Change from the Ground Up As FinVolution actively expands the BRAVOSHOPS initiative, two newly supported businesses in Indonesia exemplify the model's impact. In Cianjur, West Java, young agricultural entrepreneur Agus Surya founded a tool shop after graduating from university. His store provides essential farming equipment to rural communities and serves as a hub for agricultural education. "Running an agribusiness is about more than profit and loss — it's about making a meaningful impact," Agus said. Responding to his needs, BRAVOSHOPS helped modernize his storefront and display units, giving his shop a fresh, professional look. Agus hopes his revitalized store will serve as a stronger support system for local farmers. Also, among the early beneficiaries of BRAVOSHOPS in Indonesia is Ms. Vonny Waty, a seasoned chef from Manado, Sulawesi, who has over 15 years of culinary experience. Currently based in Jakarta, she runs a small food stall serving traditional dishes to nearby office workers. However, Vonny had long struggled with limited resources. She faced challenges expanding her business due to a lack of refrigeration and storage, which limited her ability to preserve ingredients and diversify her menu. Through the BRAVOSHOPS initiative, FinVolution provided essential equipment — including a refrigerator, storage cabinets, and a large-capacity rice cooker — enabling Vonny to improve food safety, stabilize her operations, and expand her offerings. As a result, her income has grown, and she has become a role model for other aspiring women entrepreneurs in her community, demonstrating the transformative power of targeted, practical support. Scaling Impact Across Borders FinVolution's BRAVOSHOPS initiative was first launched in late 2023 in China as a public-interest initiative designed to support small businesses deeply rooted in their local communities. The program focused on identifying microenterprises that not only provided goods or services but also played a meaningful role in fostering social cohesion and local well-being. Early beneficiaries included a neighborhood barbershop offering monthly free haircuts to elderly residents, a rural reading space organizing volunteer-led literacy sessions for children, and a cafe that created employment opportunities for individuals with hearing impairments. By the end of 2024, BRAVOSHOPS had made a measurable impact, directly benefiting more than 15,000 people across a range of underserved groups, including seniors, children, and marginalized individuals. The initiative proved that even small-scale interventions — when guided by a deep understanding of community needs — can yield meaningful and lasting social value. This success laid the foundation for the program's expansion beyond China, demonstrating its potential as a replicable model for empowering local economies and advancing inclusive development. FinVolution's decision to expand BRAVOSHOPS to Southeast Asia further underscores the initiatives' broader relevance and affirms the Company's leadership in creating value through localized, socially responsible solutions. Leading the Way in Sustainable Financial Innovation Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2022, FinVolution has aligned its business strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening its ESG practices across its operations. The Company's ESG effort has earned international recognition, with Morningstar Sustainalytics rating the firm as a "Low Risk" performer — ranking it among the top 15% of diversified financial firms worldwide. FinVolution also achieved scores above the industry average in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Looking ahead, FinVolution aims to scale its inclusive finance efforts by partnering with more organizations, and harnessing its technological and platform strengths to help create a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable economic environment across Asia and beyond.
Malaysian Reserve
26-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
FinVolution's BRAVOSHOPS to Boost 1,500 SMEs across Asia, Debuts at UN Global Compact BRI Action Platform Summit
JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FinVolution Group (NYSE: FINV), a leading fintech company, has launched its 'BRAVOSHOPS' pilot initiative to support small and micro businesses across pan-Asian countries. The Company introduced the initiative at a summit held in Indonesia on May 25, co-organized by the Government of Indonesia and the UNGC BRI Action Platform. The summit brought together global stakeholders to advance sustainable development across key sectors, including SME empowerment, green innovation, education, and energy transition. During the summit, members of the UN Global Compact unveiled nine flagship pilot initiatives, with FinVolution presenting its BRAVOSHOPS initiative as part of this global effort. Notably, FinVolution's BRAVOSHOPS initiative seeks to empower community-rooted small businesses that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and cultural heritage. The initiative builds on FinVolution's experience supporting over 70 small shops in China since 2023. Through a combination of physical upgrades, public engagement, and targeted financial support, the program enhances the visibility, functionality, and impact of participating stores. As part of its regional expansion, BRAVOSHOPS aims to empower at least 1,500 small businesses across China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other Asian countries between 2025 and 2030. The initiative reflects FinVolution's long-term commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods. Building Change from the Ground Up As FinVolution actively expands the BRAVOSHOPS initiative, two newly supported businesses in Indonesia exemplify the model's impact. In Cianjur, West Java, young agricultural entrepreneur Agus Surya founded a tool shop after graduating from university. His store provides essential farming equipment to rural communities and serves as a hub for agricultural education. 'Running an agribusiness is about more than profit and loss — it's about making a meaningful impact,' Agus said. Responding to his needs, BRAVOSHOPS helped modernize his storefront and display units, giving his shop a fresh, professional look. Agus hopes his revitalized store will serve as a stronger support system for local farmers. Also, among the early beneficiaries of BRAVOSHOPS in Indonesia is Ms. Vonny Waty, a seasoned chef from Manado, Sulawesi, who has over 15 years of culinary experience. Currently based in Jakarta, she runs a small food stall serving traditional dishes to nearby office workers. However, Vonny had long struggled with limited resources. She faced challenges expanding her business due to a lack of refrigeration and storage, which limited her ability to preserve ingredients and diversify her menu. Through the BRAVOSHOPS initiative, FinVolution provided essential equipment — including a refrigerator, storage cabinets, and a large-capacity rice cooker — enabling Vonny to improve food safety, stabilize her operations, and expand her offerings. As a result, her income has grown, and she has become a role model for other aspiring women entrepreneurs in her community, demonstrating the transformative power of targeted, practical support. Scaling Impact Across Borders FinVolution's BRAVOSHOPS initiative was first launched in late 2023 in China as a public-interest initiative designed to support small businesses deeply rooted in their local communities. The program focused on identifying microenterprises that not only provided goods or services but also played a meaningful role in fostering social cohesion and local well-being. Early beneficiaries included a neighborhood barbershop offering monthly free haircuts to elderly residents, a rural reading space organizing volunteer-led literacy sessions for children, and a cafe that created employment opportunities for individuals with hearing impairments. By the end of 2024, BRAVOSHOPS had made a measurable impact, directly benefiting more than 15,000 people across a range of underserved groups, including seniors, children, and marginalized individuals. The initiative proved that even small-scale interventions — when guided by a deep understanding of community needs — can yield meaningful and lasting social value. This success laid the foundation for the program's expansion beyond China, demonstrating its potential as a replicable model for empowering local economies and advancing inclusive development. FinVolution's decision to expand BRAVOSHOPS to Southeast Asia further underscores the initiatives' broader relevance and affirms the Company's leadership in creating value through localized, socially responsible solutions. Leading the Way in Sustainable Financial Innovation Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2022, FinVolution has aligned its business strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening its ESG practices across its operations. The Company's ESG effort has earned international recognition, with Morningstar Sustainalytics rating the firm as a 'Low Risk' performer — ranking it among the top 15% of diversified financial firms worldwide. FinVolution also achieved scores above the industry average in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Looking ahead, FinVolution aims to scale its inclusive finance efforts by partnering with more organizations, and harnessing its technological and platform strengths to help create a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable economic environment across Asia and beyond.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Agus Suwage comes full circle in reflective new show in Kuala Lumpur
The celestial spheres move in cycles – seen in the phases of the moon or the turn of the new year. We witness it too in the changing seasons: spring's blossoms, summer's lushness, fall's fading, and winter's stillness, before it all begins again. Artists and poets have long drawn on this rhythm, reflecting the cycle of life and death in their work. Agus Suwage, one of Indonesia's most acclaimed contemporary artists, is someone who takes a cyclical approach to his craft. As such, he revisits his earlier works like the ebb and flow of the seasons. Mediums and moods 'I re-cycle myself,' said Agus in an interview about his latest solo exhibition, A, now showing at A+ Works of Art in Kuala Lumpur. Marking his first major show in Kuala Lumpur in over two decades, the 66-year-old artist brings together a varied – and interesting – body of work that spans mediums and moods. Agus' connection with A+ Works of Art dates back to its inaugural group show Kadang Kadang Dekat Dekat Akan Datang in 2017, where he presented his print series Pause/Replay. For art lovers, Agus offers even more in this new Kuala Lumpur showcase, which runs through May 3. Agus' painting titled 'Plesiran' (watercolor, acrylic on paper, 2025). Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah A, as a compact exhibition, unfolds through paintings, watercolour drawings, sculptures, found objects, and a sound installation – each piece reflecting an ever-evolving artistic voice that continuously questions, revisits, and reimagines. 'I re-use parts of old sculptures or installations and present them in new forms, while also revisiting earlier drawings and paintings,' said Agus, who is of mixed Chinese Javanese heritage. With over 30 years as an artist, Agus has dedicated much of his work to exploring subjects that are deeply personal, none more so than himself – having spent a third of that time creating self-portraits. It's not a pursuit of vanity; Agus' works look into the deeper aspects of life, exploring themes like death as an integral part of the cyclical nature of 2022, Jakarta's Macan Museum held The Theater Of Me, showcasing over 80 works spanning three decades of Agus' career. His satirical portraits trace a life shaped by Indonesia's political and societal transformations. Let the music play As the conversation continued at the KL gallery, Agus also mentioned that he is influenced by music, culture – both local and popular – religion, love, and loss. These fundamental experiences of everyday life are the very elements that shape his art. 'I spent over a 10-year period doing self-portraits then I moved on to drawing models, figure drawings, animals, skeletons because it is connected with life and death, and you can see all these elements here in this exhibition,' said Agus, who resides in Jogjakarta. A gallery assistant takes a closer look at Agus' 'Eros Kai Thanatos / Vanitas' (graphite on resin, wood, oil on canvas board, candles,2024 - 2025). Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah This exhibition at A+ gallery was developed through a close collaboration between Agus and Indonesian curator Bob Edrien. Bob, 36, who previously curated Malaysian artist Adam Phong's One Of Our Fossils exhibition at A+ last year, was honoured to bring his fellow countryman's show to Kuala Lumpur. 'The idea behind this exhibition started from the tension between life and death, love and death, it also talks about happiness and sadness, the things in between,' said Bob. They even deliberated on the title of the exhibition – the letter "A" – and how it ties in with Agus' work and artistic identity. "The first time we talked, we discussed a lot about music because there's a strong connection between Agus' works and music. The letter 'A' is also used in music as a key, and in Western music, it's tuned to 440hz. And, of course, 'A' is the first letter of Agus' name," said Bob. "The letter 'A' also stands for appropriation. This was based on the idea of cycles. We can see that Agus uses appropriation of not just pop culture icons but also from his past works,' he added. A bit of rock At the exhibition, visitors can view Agus' portraits of iconic figures from politics, literature, art, music, and film, including Yasser Arafat, Mao Zedong, Kurt Cobain, and Bruce Lee, among others. These portraits are featured in his installation Ars Longa, where a tree, adorned with paintings of these figures as its leaves, invites contemplation. Marking his first major show in Kuala Lumpur in over two decades, Agus brings together a varied – and interesting – body of work that spans mediums and moods. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah 'Previously, I did a series of these iconic figures but they were all smoking. Smoking is identified with death as it can lead to ill health but in the new drawings they are not smoking anymore because I have quit smoking,' said Agus, with a laugh. The exhibition is also soundtracked by music composed by Agus, who plays both the guitar and flute. A progressive rock fan, Agus began writing his own original music during the pandemic, though he has yet to record it. "Playing music is just a hobby for me," he said, listing Yes, Rush, Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and King Crimson among his favourite bands. His latest installation, The Singer Not The Song, features an animal skull perched on a mic stand, gazing at a sheet of music. A cable runs from the skull to an audio player housed in a cardboard box, then winds its way up a tree branch, where a loudspeaker hangs, completing the eerie, poetic circuit. The artist noted that the installation's title is taken from The Singer Not The Song, a mid-1960s tune by The Rolling Stones. As a veteran artist, Agus has much to reflect on. While art remains central to his life and music a steady companion, he also spoke of a pivotal career shift – from working in graphic design to fully embracing the path of an artist – that ultimately set him on the course he's on today. Interestingly, he studied graphic design at the Institute of Technology in Bandung in 1985 and briefly pursued a career in the field, working as a creative director at an agency. But it didn't take long for him to realise that this path wasn't meant for him. 'I'm not sure myself why I picked graphic design. I've been interested in art since school, but maybe I chose the wrong course,' said Agus. 'I worked as a graphic designer and even became a creative director at an agency, but I got bored of it and decided to pursue pure art instead.' Graphic design's loss turned out to be contemporary art's gain – and Agus has been on a roll ever since, with no signs of slowing down. Agus Suwage's exhibition A is on view at A+ Works of Art in Kuala Lumpur until May 3. Visits are by appointment only. To book, contact 018-333 3399 or email info@
CNA
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Indonesia's proposal to name late President Suharto a national hero sparks discussion, backlash
But some scholars argue that Suharto – who died in 2008 at the age of 86 – meets the formal requirements to be conferred the title of national hero. University of Gadjah Mada historian Agus Suwignyo said the former president played a key role in Indonesia's fight for independence, notably by leading the 1949 General Offensive that took back Yogyakarta, and overseeing the 1962 effort to regain control of West Papua. 'Suharto fits the formal criteria, but the full historical context must be considered,' Agus said, as quoted by Jakarta Globe. Under the Social Affairs Ministerial Regulation No. 15 of 2012 concerning the Proposal for the Conferment of the Title of National Hero, a person who is nominated for the title must fulfil several general and specific requirements. Some criteria that must be fulfilled include making a real contribution as a leader or fighter and never betraying the nation, Tempo reported. However, historian Agus warned against viewing history in black and white. 'You can't ignore his role in independence, but you also can't ignore controversies, around 1965, " he said, referring to Suharto's rise to power that was marked by the deadly anti-communist purges. Amid the controversy, Minister of State Secretariat and presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi has also weighed in. 'It is only appropriate for us to show respect to our former presidents. Let's not constantly dwell on their flaws, let's acknowledge their achievements,' he told reporters at the Presidential Palace on Monday, as quoted by Tempo. On Suharto's corruption, Prasetyo said that there is no perfect leader. This is not the first time Indonesia has considered naming Suharto a national hero. Since 2010, his name has been regularly seen on the list of national hero nominees from Central Java, the Jakarta Post reported. Suharto's second daughter Siti Hediati Hariyadi, also known as Titiek Soeharto, has welcomed the proposal this year to confer the title on her late father. Titiek, who is the former wife of current President Prabowo Subianto, said that the family has never actively lobbied for the title despite the topic frequently surfacing in public discourse around National Heroes Day on Nov 10. 'It comes up every year. Whether or not it happens, he remains a hero (to) us,' she said, as quoted by Jakarta Globe. She also expressed hope it would finally materialise under Prabowo's administration. The Social Affairs Ministry has received 10 nominations so far, including late former president Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur. Individuals who have been conferred the title include Indonesia's first president Sukarno and his vice-president Mohammed Hatta.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indonesia agrees deal with Apple that could end iPhone sales ban
Indonesia has struck a deal with Apple for the tech giant to invest in the country, its industry minister and the company said Wednesday, in a move that could end a ban on iPhone 16 sales in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. The government in October prohibited the marketing and sale of the model over the US tech titan's failure to meet regulations requiring 40 percent of phones be made from local parts. Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said Wednesday that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed virtually between officials from his ministry and Apple, according to a ministry statement. "The Ministry of Industry has approved the investment and innovation plan by Apple from 2025 to 2028. We have also signed the MoU with Apple," Agus said in the statement. Apple will build two facilities -- one in Bandung in West Java province to produce accessories and another in Batam worth $150 million to help produce AirTags via local suppliers, the statement said. Agus also said Apple expressed its commitment to building a semiconductor research and development centre in Indonesia, the "first of its kind in Asia". The MoU allows for the revoking of the iPhone 16 sales ban under certain conditions. Agus said work towards approval of a local content certificate to sell the iPhone 16 could begin after the agreement was signed. "We're excited to expand our investments across Indonesia and can't wait to bring all of Apple's innovative products, including the iPhone 16 family, with the all new iPhone 16e, to our customers," Apple Indonesia told AFP in a statement. A government source confirmed to AFP on Tuesday that terms for the lifting of the ban had been agreed, without providing more details. Jakarta rejected a $100 million investment proposal from Apple in November, saying it lacked the "fairness" required by the government. The negotiation deadlock forced Apple to later offer an investment of $1 billion to build an AirTag factory in the country. Despite the sales ban, the government had allowed iPhone 16s to be carried into Indonesia if they were not being traded commercially. Indonesia also banned the sale of Google Pixel phones for failing to meet the 40 percent parts requirement. Apple chief executive Tim Cook visited Indonesia last year as the tech giant explored ways to invest in the country and diversify supply chains away from China. dsa-jfx/sco Sign in to access your portfolio
