Sumatra Pushed to Become New Economic Powerhouse, Home Affairs Minister Encourages Inter-Regional Integration

The Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, is pushing for the strengthening of economic integration between regions on Sumatra island. This initiative is considered crucial to making the island a new driver of national economic growth. He conveyed this during the opening of the Coordination Meeting of Governors of Sumatra at the JW Marriott Hotel in Medan, North Sumatra, on Wednesday (9/9). Tito assessed that Sumatra possesses significant capital in the form of natural resources, human resources, and a strategic position on international trade routes. The island is inhabited by 63 million people, or 21.9 percent of Indonesia's total population. These assets are deemed key for a region to progress. "I am confident that Sumatra's advantages are its extraordinary natural resources, both on land and at sea, both above and below the surface, which is why it is called the island of gold, the island of hope," he said in a written statement on Wednesday (9/9). According to Tito, this potential needs to be optimized through development that is no longer sectoral. Development must integrate production, markets, infrastructure, and trade between regions, even across countries. He stated that inter-regional cooperation needs to be utilized to strengthen commodity supply and control prices. "If this can be collaborated, regions with high inflation due to insufficient supply can be supplied from regions with sufficient supply. Almost all food in Sumatra is available here," he added. Tito also encouraged cross-Sumatra connectivity, asserting that it should not only support mobility but also act as a driver for new economic centers. He further noted that this cooperation should also be directed towards capturing market opportunities in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. "I truly appreciate and hope for the cooperation carried out between regions. The central government is also formulating a concept to build this Sumatra region as an economic powerhouse," he said. Tito emphasized that strengthening Sumatra's economy will have a direct impact on national growth. Therefore, inter-regional cooperation must be realized in concrete programs that encourage investment, trade, and community welfare. "Sumatra's rise will boost national economic growth, as the national figures are an aggregate of central and regional efforts," he concluded. For information, the forum was attended by governors and deputy governors from all over Sumatra. On this occasion, Tito also listened to aspirations conveyed by the attending governors and deputy governors. He also witnessed the signing of a joint agreement and minutes of the formation of the Sumatra 10 Forum by the governors and deputy governors.