Bamsoet Applauds West Java's Economic Resilience Amid Global Turmoil

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, former Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly, and Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet), has assessed that West Java’s economic resilience serves as evidence that regions can continue to grow strongly amid global economic uncertainty triggered by slowing international trade, geopolitical conflicts in various regions, commodity price fluctuations, and pressures on global supply chains. He noted that West Java’s economic growth in 2025 was even above the national economic growth rate, which was recorded at approximately 5.11 percent for the full year and 5.39 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, West Java’s inflation rate was maintained at 2.63 percent. According to him, this condition shows that West Java possesses stronger resilience compared to many other regions in facing the global economic slowdown. The performance of the processing industry, trade, logistics, construction, and investment sectors were the main factors underpinning this growth. “This achievement demonstrates that West Java’s economic foundation is very strong. When the world faces uncertainty due to geopolitical conflicts, economic slowdowns in several developed countries, and global trade pressures, West Java’s economy has still been able to grow above the national average with controlled inflation. This is an important indicator that the region’s economic structure is increasingly robust and solid,” Bamsoet stated on Monday (22/6/2026). He made these remarks at Liwet Asep Stroberi after visiting Nagrek Regency and Tasikmalaya on Saturday (20/6). The former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Chairman of House Commission III explained that one important indicator reflecting the quality of West Java’s economic growth is its success in controlling inflation. In December 2025, West Java’s annual inflation was recorded at 2.63 percent. He considered this figure lower than the national inflation rate, which reached 2.92 percent. This price stability is crucial because it directly affects people’s purchasing power and business certainty. “High economic growth will struggle to provide maximum benefits if inflation is not under control. Therefore, West Java’s success in maintaining inflation at around 2.63 percent is a very important achievement because it preserves people’s purchasing power while boosting investor confidence,” said Bamsoet. The Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party assessed that West Java’s position as the centre of the national manufacturing industry is the main factor supporting the region’s economic resilience. Various industrial zones in Karawang, Bekasi, Purwakarta, Subang, and the Rebana area continue to attract new investment, particularly in the automotive, electric vehicle, electronics, logistics, and technology-based industry sectors. This investment flow generates a multiplier effect that strengthens economic activity, expands employment opportunities, and maintains people’s purchasing power. “West Java’s advantage lies in the combination of a strong industrial base, increasingly complete infrastructure, and proximity to the national market centre. These factors make West Java a highly competitive investment destination at both the regional and global levels,” Bamsoet elaborated. Furthermore, the Chairman of ARDIN Indonesia reminded that future challenges remain significant. The global economic slowdown, trade protectionism policies, technological disruption, and inter-country investment competition will continue to be factors influencing regional economic performance. Therefore, Bamsoet continued, improving the quality of human resources, strengthening logistics infrastructure, accelerating industrial downstreaming, and developing innovation-based economies must be West Java’s development priorities in the coming years. “Economic resilience cannot be measured solely by high growth figures. What is more important is how that growth can create quality jobs, strengthen people’s purchasing power, reduce inequality, and improve welfare evenly,” Bamsoet concluded.