Coordinating Minister AHY stresses central-regional collaboration to build resilient cities

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has emphasised the importance of collaboration between the central government and regional administrations in building resilient cities. “The synergy between central and local governments is crucial in building resilient, modern, and productive cities, as well as in addressing various future development challenges,” Agus Harimurti said after closing the XVIII National Working Meeting of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) in Medan on Thursday. He noted that such collaboration is vital given the increasingly complex challenges cities face, such as significant urbanisation flows that heighten the need for basic infrastructure. AHY, as he is familiarly known, stated that infrastructure development and inter-regional connectivity must continue to be strengthened to create new economic growth centres suited to each region’s potential. “City development must be carried out jointly, from the planning and implementation stages through to on-the-ground supervision. With strong collaboration, development outcomes will be more optimal,” he said. He therefore expressed hope that APEKSI would continue to serve as a platform for all city governments in Indonesia to learn from one another, share experiences, and strengthen cooperation in improving governance quality and urban development. “The central government will also continue to encourage cross-ministerial and institutional coordination, covering aspects from spatial planning and agrarian affairs to physical development and inter-regional equity, so that city development in Indonesia becomes increasingly high-quality and sustainable,” he added.