BPS Launches 2026 Economic Census in East Kalimantan to Strengthen Regional Development Compass

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) is strengthening synergy with regional governments to ensure the success of the 2026 Economic Census (SE2026), a national agenda held once every ten years. As a form of reinforcing this commitment, the Head of BPS RI, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, launched the implementation of SE2026 in East Kalimantan Province in Samarinda (25/6). The event was attended by Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives Hetifah Sjaifudian, East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud, members of the Provincial Forkopimda, representatives of vertical agencies, the General Chair of the East Kalimantan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), and Regional Apparatus Organisations (OPD) of East Kalimantan Province. In her remarks, Amalia likened the Economic Census to a medical record for the country’s economy. ‘Imagine the country is like a doctor. But if the doctor does not have a patient’s medical record, they will prescribe medicine by guessing. As a result, the medicine given may not be right, and the programmes created will also miss the mark. Therefore, this Economic Census is a medical record for Indonesia’s economy,’ Amalia explained at the SE2026 Launching event at Odah Etam Samarinda on Thursday (25/6). According to Amalia, economic activity in Indonesia has changed very rapidly over the past decade. Currently, more business actors are running their economic activities without needing a physical shop or office. For this reason, the SE2026 data collection method is designed to be more adaptive by visiting households directly to ensure all economic activities are recorded completely. Amalia further asserted that the results of every census always become the foundation for the birth of various strategic national policies. ‘From a census, a major economic policy for this nation will usually be born. That is also what we hope for, and of course, to get there, this Economic Census must be a success,’ Amalia stated. East Kalimantan Province holds a strategic position in national development, in line with the construction of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). The dynamically moving economic growth makes East Kalimantan one of the important motors of Indonesia’s economic transformation. Through SE2026, the regional government will obtain a comprehensive picture of the structure, characteristics, potential, and challenges of the economy without having to allocate a budget from the Regional Budget (APBD). ‘I believe if we work together, this economic census will be a useful compass. It will be a foundation for the development of a more advanced and prosperous East Kalimantan, welcoming Indonesia Emas 2045,’ said Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Hetifah Sjaifudian. Door-to-door data collection for SE2026 began simultaneously across Indonesia on 15 June 2026. A total of 3,085 field officers have been deployed to record all business activities in ten regencies and cities in East Kalimantan until 31 August 2026. East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud stated that the economic census is not merely a data collection activity, but an investment for the future. According to him, accurate data today will provide benefits for various decisions both now and in the future. Rudi expressed his hope that the results of SE2026 can become the basis for overseeing East Kalimantan’s economic transformation, from dependence on the extractive sector towards strengthening a sustainable green and blue economy. Prior to the launching ceremony, Amalia reviewed the field data collection process at the Samarinda Vocational and Productivity Training Centre (BPVP) complex. She witnessed the face-to-face interview process conducted by census officers with a family that runs a grocery store business. Amalia also reviewed the coordination carried out by the East Kalimantan Provincial BPS with Big Mall Samarinda, one of the largest shopping centres in Samarinda City, to discuss the mall management’s support for the implementation of SE2026. SE2026 records businesses with physical locations as well as digital-based businesses and household economic activities to produce a more complete picture of the economy.