BPS Launches 2026 Economic Census in Central Java, Highlighting Millions of Hopes Behind the Data
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has officially launched the 2026 Economic Census (SE2026) in Central Java Province. The event, held at Simpang Lima Pancasila Square in Semarang on Thursday (18/6), was attended by Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi, BPS Deputy Head Sonny Harry Budiutomo Harmadi, regional leadership coordination forum members, regents and mayors across Central Java, and 1,000 SE2026 field officers.
BPS Deputy Head Sonny Harry Budiutomo Harmadi expressed appreciation to the Central Java Provincial Government for its support of SE2026. He stated that local government commitment is essential capital for producing quality data needed to formulate targeted development policies. “Appreciation to Central Java, especially the Governor, for the extraordinary support for SE2026. This support also explains that targeted development requires quality data,” Sonny said.
Sonny explained that Central Java is a national economic powerhouse with a strong business foundation. The province’s economic growth has consistently exceeded the national growth rate from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. Central Java is also a prime destination for foreign investment. The number of businesses in Central Java in 2026 reached nearly 5 million units, accounting for 25.76 percent of all businesses on Java Island and 15.25 percent of the total in Indonesia. Over two decades, the number of businesses has risen significantly from 3.69 million units in 2006 to 4.93 million units in 2026, with around 4.8 million being micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Given this economic scale, launching SE2026 in Central Java holds strategic significance. The census results are expected to provide a more complete picture of the structure and characteristics of businesses in one of the nation’s economic centres. Notably, SE2026 will for the first time also cover the agricultural sector, offering a more holistic portrait of economic activity.
Governor Ahmad Luthfi pledged full support for SE2026, emphasising that the data will serve as a crucial foundation for regional governments in shaping future development and economic policies. “I thank and support BPS for conducting the 2026 Economic Census. This census must succeed because the data produced will become a roadmap for all regency and city officials,” he said. He also urged all regents, mayors, business actors, and the public to support the census by providing accurate information to BPS officers.
As a symbol of the census commencement, Governor Luthfi placed an identification tag on an SE2026 officer. A total of 36,891 field officers have been deployed in Central Java, equipped with official attributes including QR-coded ID tags, SE2026 vests, and assignment letters to ensure public security and trust during data collection.
Sonny invited the public to support SE2026 with a simple acronym, ‘TIR’: Terima (Welcome) the SE2026 officers, Isi (Fill in) data correctly, and Rahasia (Secrecy) of data is guaranteed. “I continuously invite everyone to make SE2026 a collective movement. Statistical data is not just numbers. Behind the statistics are millions of people hoping, millions of business actors hoping, so statistical data is interpreted as humanity,” Sonny said.
On the same occasion, Sonny, accompanied by Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti, observed field data collection at a large business, MG Setos Hotel Semarang. The Director of Sales Marketing, Anto, answered questions posed by SE2026 officers. Data was collected through direct interviews to obtain a comprehensive picture of business characteristics, economic activities, and challenges faced by respondents.