Bontang Mayor Highlights Youth's Role in Development
The Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) opened its 18th National Working Meeting series in Medan on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. In the agenda, Youth City Changers (YCC) became a vital platform for listening to, involving, and integrating the aspirations and innovative ideas of young people. Youths were invited to collaborate and become leaders in building resilient and competitive cities. YCC encourages the younger generation to be adaptive, caring, and ready to become solutions for future urban challenges by implementing three main pillars of city building: integrated disaster mitigation and post-disaster management, the spirit of mutual cooperation, and the active role of volunteers and the younger generation.
Bontang Mayor Meni Moerniani, who was also present at the agenda, said that the Bontang City Government encourages the younger generation to become solutions to urban challenges. One way is by increasing the Community Literacy Development Index (IPLM). “As for the role of young people in Bontang, Alhamdulillah. Firstly, if we talk about literacy, the literacy development index is the highest in East Kalimantan. Alhamdulillah, for a newly established city, newly granted regional autonomy,” said Neni Moerniaeni.
It is known that Bontang City’s IPLM reached 82.05, placing Bontang in fourth place nationally for the district and city category. For the Reading Interest Level (TGM), Bontang City’s score is in the range of 71.04 to 71.40, surpassing other major cities in the East Kalimantan region such as Balikpapan and Samarinda. This achievement is driven by strong synergy between the local government and various parties in building a literacy ecosystem from an early age.
In the Academic Ability Test (TKA), Neni continued, Bontang City became the highest and most numerous in East Kalimantan, above the national average for primary and junior secondary schools. “The achievements of the youths are also Alhamdulillah. The 2026 national Heritage Flag Hoisting Troop (Paskibra) from Bontang, the representative from East Kalimantan Province is also from Bontang,” she said.
Under Neni’s leadership, Bontang City achieved the Best 1 ranking thanks to the successful collaboration between the government and the business sector in creating jobs and reducing the unemployment rate. Bontang’s young people are also actively making achievements, one of which is winning 1st Place in the East Kalimantan GenRe Award and 2nd Place nationally for the Be Healthy Youth Family Development (BKR) group. The city government also actively encourages the younger generation to showcase their skills through filmmaking workshops for students so that young filmmakers can elevate Bontang’s local culture, stories, and uniqueness to the national stage. Neni has also been recognised nationally for her real contribution and dedication to fostering mosque youth and advancing faith-based youth organisations. “Many innovations have been carried out, appropriate technology and so on. Our youths’ achievements, Alhamdulillah,” said Neni.