Jakarta, June 26 -- The Coordinating Ministry for Social Empowerment has initiated the Empowered Pioneer Program to reduce poverty by empowering communities economically.

"Poverty alleviation cannot be assessed solely from the social perspective," Deputy for Coordination of Community Economic Empowerment and Migrant Worker Protection at the ministry Leontinus Alpha Edison said in Jakarta on Thursday.

It also needs to be seen from an empowerment perspective, especially economic empowerment, he added.

The Empowered Pioneer Program aims to reduce the percentage of extremely poor in the country.

"The target is our citizens living in extreme poverty. The hope is that within the next two years, extreme poverty can be reduced to zero percent...