DPD Chairman Urges Development of Sumatra Economic Corridor Post-Disaster
The Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) of the Republic of Indonesia, Sultan Baktiar Najamudin, is urging regional governments across Sumatra to collaborate closely. This effort is intended to consolidate and develop natural resource potential through integrated downstreaming programmes.
“The Sumatra region possesses extraordinary natural resource potential, both on land and at sea. However, on the other hand, Sumatra’s strategic location also exposes us to significant natural disaster challenges in recent years,” Sultan stated in a briefing on Friday (1/11/2026).
Sultan made these remarks while delivering a speech during the DPD RI Sub-region I Member Meeting in Batam, Riau Islands, on Friday.
According to him, most of the Sumatra region serves as Indonesia’s westernmost frontier, situated along the international trade routes of the Malacca Strait and the Indian Ocean. This strategic position presents both opportunities and challenges for regional economic development.
“There are many island areas within this region. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a more systematic and integrated economic and business corridor or ecosystem,” he added.
In addition to developing the economic corridor, Sultan also encouraged the Central Government and regional governments to continue strengthening coordination in preparing effective and innovative steps for the rehabilitation and reconstruction (rehab-recon) processes following floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
“For us, recovery must not merely be about restoring what was damaged. We must rebuild using the principle of ‘build back better, safer, and sustainable’,” he emphasised.
Sultan stressed that rebuilt infrastructure must be more resilient to potential disasters. Inter-regional connectivity also needs to be strengthened to ensure that community economic activities can recover swiftly.
“The infrastructure built must be more resilient. Connectivity must be strengthened. The community’s economy must be set in motion again,” he said.
“And most importantly, the community, especially children, must be able to return to their learning processes in schools and have a safer future,” he concluded.
For information, the DPD RI Sub-region I Member Meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya, the Governor of West Sumatra, the Governor of Riau Islands, the Vice Governor of Aceh, as well as dozens of regents and mayors.
During the forum, Sultan, along with 37 DPD RI members from 10 Sumatran provinces, also gathered various aspirations from regents and mayors, including matters regarding the efficiency of Regional Transfers (TKD), the development of special economic zones, and the strengthening of Free Trade Zones (FTZ).