BPS: Central Java Businesses Contribute 15.25 Per Cent to National Total

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has stated that the number of business units in Central Java Province contributes 15.25 per cent of the total number of businesses in Indonesia. BPS Deputy Chief Sonny Harry Budiutomo Harmadi in Semarang on Thursday affirmed that Central Java plays a strategic role in the national economy, with a total of 5 million business units. This figure, he said, is equivalent to 25.76 per cent of all businesses on Java Island and 15.25 per cent of the total businesses in Indonesia. “If we conduct the data collection in Central Java very well, it means we are completing at least 15 per cent of the quality of data collection in Indonesia,” he stated during the Launch of the 2026 Economic Census at Pancasila Square, Simpang Lima, Semarang City. He explained that the 2026 Economic Census differs from previous censuses, as this year’s census also covers the agricultural sector and households. According to him, data collection down to the household level is necessary because many economic activities are now conducted from home, including digital-based businesses. “Now people are using TikTok, using social media, which is not visible from the outside. We can only collect the data, we can only identify it if we enter people’s homes,” he said. He added that the 2026 Economic Census is different from the National Single Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN), as it specifically records economic activities, both business actors and family economies. Furthermore, Sonny also assured that the data collected in the 2026 Economic Census is not related to taxation. Meanwhile, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi stated that the census data serves as an important basis for reading economic conditions and formulating regional development policies. According to him, the census results will help provincial and district/city governments map regional economic potential more accurately. Therefore, he requested regents, mayors, and government officials to help socialise the census to the public. “We can map our regions, what the picture of Central Java’s economy looks like. This is important so that we all realise that economic growth is based on data,” he said. Luthfi also urged the public, particularly business actors ranging from MSMEs to household businesses, to be open when being recorded by census officers. He assured that the data provided by the public will be kept confidential. Accurate data, he said, will become the foundation so that provincial and district/city government development can proceed in harmony. The event was also attended by a number of regional heads and BPS officials from across Central Java. The census, which will be carried out until 31 August 2026 in Central Java, involves 36,891 field officers.