Appreciation for Outstanding Regions 2026 Held, Home Affairs Minister Encourages Competitive Climate Among Regions

The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) held the 2026 Outstanding Regions Appreciation event in the Ballroom of Wyndham Opi Hotel, Palembang, South Sumatra, on Saturday (25/4/2026). This event serves as a strategic instrument to promote a competitive climate among local governments in the Sumatra region to accelerate improvements in performance and innovation. Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian emphasised that, as a country with numerous and diverse local governments (Pemda), enhancing regional performance is no simple challenge. He assessed that performance achievements among regions still vary, necessitating continuous encouragement through healthy competition. “Indeed, there are regional heads who are certainly excellent, some average, and others who need to improve their capabilities,” he stated. He added that, amid open information, positive Pemda achievements require adequate publicity space so that the public gains a more balanced picture. “Therefore, there needs to be exposure; there must be reporting. If something good is not reported, people won’t know,” he said. As part of these efforts, Kemendagri organised this event by establishing four main assessment categories: reducing unemployment rates, addressing poverty and stunting, controlling inflation, and creative financing. In the unemployment reduction category, South Solok Regency took first place, followed by the Mentawai Islands as second, and Dairi as third. For city level, Pagar Alam became first, followed by Tanjung Balai and Dumai. Meanwhile, Bengkulu received the award for provincial level. In the poverty and stunting alleviation category, Mesuji Regency took first place, followed by South Tapanuli and Bengkalis. For city level, Sungai Penuh became first, followed by Pekanbaru and Batam, while the Riau Islands won at the provincial level. Next, in the inflation control category, Tebo Regency took first place, followed by North Musi Rawas and North Labuhanbatu. For city level, Langsa became first, followed by Prabumulih and Bukittinggi, while Bengkulu again received the award at the provincial level. As for the creative financing category, Bintan Regency took first place, followed by South Lampung and Batu Bara. For city level, Bandar Lampung became first, followed by Medan and Palembang, while North Sumatra received the award at the provincial level. As a form of appreciation, the government provides fiscal incentives to the winners, namely Rp1 billion for third place, Rp2 billion for second place, and Rp3 billion for first place and provincial level. This step is expected not only to strengthen the culture of performance and innovation in the regions but also to become part of a sustainable strategy in improving the quality of national governance.