50 Years of Creating Opportunities in Indonesia

Swisscontact began its works in Indonesia with the establishment of the first polytechnic in the country, Polyteknik Mekanik Swiss in Bandung, West Java (now Polytechnic of Manufacture – Polman Bandung).

Swisscontact’s skills development initiative in Indonesia continues with the Indonesia-Swiss Polytechnic Project (ISPP), which set up 16 new polytechnics nationwide in 20 years, including the Vocational Education Development Center (VEDC) in Malang, East Java.

Clean Air Project (1997-2002), followed by Smoke Free Jakarta (2002-2007), advocated for the improvement of Jakarta’s air quality. These initiatives pioneered the Car Free Day in 2002 and advocated for the Jakarta Governor Regulation No. 88/2010 on Non-Smoking Areas.

From 2004 to 2008, the ACCESS Project improved small and medium enterprises (SMEs)’ market access through financial and public services, while engaging media to increase outreach.

Throughout the course of the project, Mobile Training Unit (MTU) provided skills training to nearly 6,000 people for the post-tsunami relief effort in Aceh Province between 2005 and 2009.

The Local Economic Development in East Nusa Tenggara (LED NTT), ran from 2005 to 2008, supported smallholder cocoa farmers in the province through training on good farming and post-harvesting practices to improve plot management, productivity, and quality of produce.

Swisscontact Indonesia’s tourism destination development initiative began this year with the WISATA Program. It was implemented in two phases until 2018, covering four regions: Flores, East Nusa Tenggara; Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi; Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi; and Tanjung Puting, Central Kalimantan.

To increase competitiveness of the cocoa sector nationwide, the Sustainable Cocoa Production Program (SCPP) was implemented from 2010 to 2020 improve smallholder farmers’ productivity and income, sustainable supply chain, and sector-wide collaboration.

A continuation of Swisscontact’s focus on tourism in Indonesia, Sustainable Tourism Destination Development (SUSTOUR), ran until 2023, aimed to promote sustainability approach for local-led tourism destination management in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, and Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi.

On the year of its 50th anniversary, Swisscontact Indonesia continues its commitment to support the partnership between the Indonesian and Swiss governments. Presently, Swisscontact implements initiatives on skills development, sustainable agriculture and trade