12 Provincial Governments Gather in Central Java to Discuss Collaboration for Regional Advancement
Through this forum, Central Java has become a focal point for collaboration among 12 provincial governments in formulating strategies to support national economic growth and resilience.
The 12 provinces consist of 10 provinces already affiliated with the Forum for Regional Cooperation Mitra Praja Utama (FKD MPU), namely Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Banten, West Java, East Java, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, Lampung, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara. This is joined by two additional provinces, namely North Maluku and Riau Islands.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi stated that this forum is expected to create creative breakthroughs to improve community welfare, reduce poverty rates, and nurture new economic growth in each region. Additionally, it aims to generate creative ideas for joint regional development.
“We realise that in the current global situation, fiscal pressures, fiscal limitations, and others demand that all public officials be more creative,” said Luthfi in a press release on Tuesday (12/5/2026).
Luthfi made this statement while attending the Gala Dinner of the FKD MPU Governors’ Working Meeting at Hotel Tentrem, Semarang City, on Monday (11/5).
He added that one province with another has respective strengths that can be developed to complement each other.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Akhmad Wiyagus conveyed appreciation from the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, to all MPU members. So far, MPU members have continued to strengthen collaboration and synergy among regions as an important part of supporting the national development agenda.
“Thank you to Central Java for facilitating as the host. The Interior Minister specifically requested two Deputy Interior Ministers to attend the event in Central Java,” he said.
Furthermore, the main agenda includes evaluating the six focus areas of the MPU action plan, reaching agreements on cross-border energy and food oversight, and central government directives to be discussed in the FKD MPU working meeting. All of these are strategic, relevant, and visionary agendas amid current global dynamics and national development challenges.
This is because, in the current global situation, Indonesia is demonstrating fairly good economic resilience. Based on BPS data, the national year-on-year inflation for April 2026 remains controlled at 2.42%. This indicates that controlling the prices of basic necessities and macroeconomic stability are still running quite effectively. National economic growth for the first quarter of 2026 reached 5.61%.
“This achievement shows that the Indonesian economy remains resilient amid global pressures,” said Akhmad Wiyagus.
The food sector also shows encouraging developments. Nevertheless, it must continue to be maintained through strengthened inter-regional distribution, supply control, food downstreaming, and solid regional cooperation.
In such a situation, the existence of FKD MPU Mitra becomes very important and strategic in supporting the national economy. Where each province has comparative advantages and flagship potentials that complement each other.
Moreover, most MPU members have strong fiscal capacity, even becoming centres of national economic growth. West Java and Banten excel in agriculture, manufacturing, and investment sectors; Central Java, East Java, and Lampung are the main pillars of the food, plantation, and processing industry sectors. Jakarta serves as the national centre for trade, services, and finance. Meanwhile, Bali, Yogyakarta, and West Nusa Tenggara have strengths in international tourism and the creative economy.
“Member provinces also have strategic potential in the maritime sector, logistics, energy, trade, and human resources. If those potentials are integrated through concrete inter-regional cooperation, they will become a great strength in maintaining national resilience,” he said.