BPS Launches Economic Census in Central Java, Targeting Accurate and High-Quality Data
The Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Indonesia (BPS RI) has officially inaugurated the implementation of the 2026 Economic Census (SE2026) in Central Java Province. For the first time, the census will encompass the agricultural sector to present a complete picture of economic activities. During the event held at Pancasila Field, Simpang Lima, Semarang, on Thursday (18/06), the Deputy Head of BPS RI, Sonny Harry Budiutlamo Harmadi, expressed his appreciation to the Central Java Provincial Government.
He noted the provincial government’s support for the SE2026 implementation and the local government’s commitment to producing high-quality data to formulate precisely targeted development policies. “I appreciate Central Java, particularly the Governor, for the extraordinary support for the 2026 Economic Census. This support demonstrates that targeted development requires quality data,” Sonny stated in a written release on Friday (19/06/2026).
He further explained Central Java’s role as a national economic powerhouse with a strong business foundation. This is reflected in the province’s economic growth, which has consistently remained above the national economic growth rate from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. This fact paves the way for Central Java to become a primary investment target for foreign nations.
Sonny reported that the number of businesses in Central Java in 2026 is approaching 5 million units, accounting for 25.76 per cent of all businesses on Java Island and 15.25 per cent of the total businesses in Indonesia. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in the number of businesses in Central Java over the last two decades. The figure, which stood at 3.69 million units in 2006, has now reached 4.93 million units, with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) making up approximately 4.8 million of that total.
The launch of SE2026, oriented towards the scale and dynamics of the economy, is considered strategic, as the census is expected to fully depict the structure and characteristics of businesses in Central Java. Sonny urged the public to ensure the success of SE2026 through the ‘TIR’ message: Receive the SE2026 officers, Fill in the data correctly, and Data confidentiality is guaranteed. Public participation and acceptance are decisive factors for the census’s success.
“I continuously invite everyone to make SE2026 a collective movement. Statistical data is not merely numbers. Behind statistics, there are millions of people and millions of business actors who have hopes; thus, statistical data should be understood through a human lens,” he emphasised.
On the same occasion, the Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, expressed full support for the implementation of SE2026, noting that the census data would serve as a crucial foundation for the local government in formulating future development directions and economic policies. “I express my gratitude and support to BPS for conducting the 2026 Economic Census. This census must succeed because the resulting data will serve as a roadmap for all regency and city officials,” said Luthfi.
In his speech, he called upon all regents, mayors, business actors, and the community to fully support SE2026 by providing accurate information. He believes that the participation of all parties will produce a factual and comprehensive economic map of Central Java. As part of the event, Ahmad Luthfi presented identification badges to SE2026 officers to symbolise the commencement of the census. It is reported that 36,891 officers have been deployed for SE2026, equipped with official attributes including QR-coded identification, official SE2026 vests, and assignment letters.