The Smart Village Program took center stage in an event titled "Building a Brand in the Digital Era," held on Thursday, December 19, 2024, in Kajang Village, Sawahan District, Madiun Regency. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Fitra Pinandhita, M.Pd, a lecturer at Universitas PGRI Madiun (UNIPMA).

This initiative, spearheaded by Indonesia’s Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Kemendes), aims to harness information and communication technology (ICT) to improve the quality of life in rural communities. Beyond innovation, the program focuses on enhancing basic services, empowering technology-based community activities, and fostering modern, self-reliant village development.

In his presentation, Dr. Fitra Pinandhita, M.Pd emphasized the importance of leveraging digital technology as a strategy to advance rural potential. He highlighted the role of social media, online marketplaces, and digital platforms in bridging local potential with broader markets.

"Digital technology is crucial in creating self-reliant, modern, and innovative villages. By embracing technology, communities can develop local businesses, market unique village products, and build village identities that gain broader recognition," Dr. Fitra Pinandhita explained in an interview on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

The program offers numerous direct benefits to rural communities, such as:

• Facilitating the promotion of local products to reach wider audiences.
• Supporting more efficient business management, from transaction records to product marketing.
• Providing digital training that opens new opportunities, particularly for younger generations.
• Boosting income and strengthening the overall village economy.

During the event, participants actively engaged with the speaker, raising questions about starting digital branding with minimal capital, choosing the right digital platforms, and crafting content tailored to specific target audiences.

Dr. Fitra Pinandhita, M.Pd appreciated the participants' enthusiasm in understanding digital technology as a strategic tool for rural development. “Hopefully, this program marks the beginning of significant steps to make Indonesian villages widely recognized through digital branding. With strong collaboration, local potential can be maximized,” he said.

Through this event, Kajang Village is expected to inspire other villages to embrace digital technology in building a self-sustaining, creative, and innovative village ecosystem. The Smart Village Program aims to bring about tangible transformations, making Indonesian villages more prosperous and globally recognized.