Jakarta (malangkota.go.id) – In between attending the event Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2018, Acting Mayor of Malang Drs. Sutiaji emphasized the importance of building connectivity (programs) of regional apparatus organizations (OPD) in Malang City.
"The achievement of regional development programs will be maximized if all are connected, complementing and strengthening each other. It cannot and must not run alone," said Sutiaji.
Accompanied by the Regional Secretary of Malang City Drs. Wasto, SH., MH, Sutiaji also emphasized the importance of regional independence.
"Regions should not just look forward to the flow of funds from the center, but must be able to maximize regional potential in an effort to build budget independence. That is what I will encourage to OPD and regional companies in Malang City," he continued.
Sutiaji's statement was in response to the slogan Inspire, Imagine, Innovate and initiate which became the spirit of the 2018 Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) held by the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Jakarta, Tuesday (10/07/2018).
The event, opened by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, was attended by governors, regents and mayors throughout Indonesia. IDF 2018 is the second event after being initiated and held in 2017.
Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Bambang Brojonegoro in his opening remarks at IDF 2018, informed that this event carries the theme “Breakthroughs to Overcome Inter-Regional Disparities Throughout the Archipelago” with the aim of accommodating the Indonesian Government, academics, civil society, development partners and the public in general to gather cross-disciplinary development perspectives.
The theme is described in seven sub-themes, namely, first, development of growth centers, second, efforts to reduce disparities in underdeveloped and border regions, third, improvement of basic services to reduce regional disparities, fourth, utilizing the potential of the digital economy to encourage regional development, fifth, strengthening Indonesia's connectivity as an archipelagic country, sixth, innovation in regional government governance, and seventh, optimizing sources of development funding.
"Fighting inequality towards better development, which was the theme last year (2017), became the starting point for choosing the theme of IDF 2018 with a concentration on the actualization of President Jokowi's third Nawacita, namely building Indonesia from the periphery," said Bambang Brojonegoro.
The 2018 Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) event was also attended by Australian Ambassador HE. Gary Quinlan, in his presentation he said that Indonesia is a country that has a strong democratic culture and cultural richness, as well as an archipelago from Sabang to Merauke.
The growth of economic development is an important concern for the Australian Government as a strategic partner. The special presence of the Australian Government in the IDF 2018 event, because this activity is also supported by the Knowledge Sector Initiative, an Australian development network institution.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla reminded us of the course of history, that the emergence of rebellions, separatist movements and attempts to separate from the Republic of Indonesia were due to economic inequality.
"To advance the development of the outlying, frontier, underdeveloped, and underdeveloped regions, is the focus of the government. It is not easy but must be done," said Jusuf Kalla.
He added, therefore the initial concept of regional autonomy is to compete for efficiency and prioritize regional excellence, in order to be able to encourage development acceleration. (cah/ram/yon)
