East Java Governor Targets Zero Extreme Poverty on Province’s 81st Anniversary

Surabaya (ANTARA) – East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa is aiming to reduce extreme poverty in the province to zero, following improvements in several welfare indicators.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of East Java at the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya on Monday, Khofifah said the province’s poverty rate stood at 9.06 per cent in March 2026, down from 9.50 per cent a year earlier.

Extreme poverty in East Java was recorded at 0.29 per cent in 2025.

“This gives us confidence that we can bring extreme poverty down to zero,” she said.

Khofifah said the reduction in poverty was among the achievements of the Nawa Bhakti Satya programme, which sets the direction for East Java’s development priorities through 2029.

She also outlined progress in expanding employment opportunities, strengthening food security, improving the quality of education and healthcare, and transforming public services.

In employment, Khofifah said East Java’s open unemployment rate in May 2026 was 3.42 per cent.

“This unemployment figure is an achievement that demonstrates the resilience of our economy,” she said.

East Java produced around 10.44 million tonnes of dry-milled paddy in 2025, equivalent to 17.34 per cent of national rice production.

“We understand that food sovereignty is built on the hard work of farmers who diligently care for the land, the perseverance of livestock breeders in their pens, and the courage of our fishers as they brave the ocean waves. Thanks to all of your dedication, East Java stands tall today with immense pride,” she said.

In education, the East Java provincial government is expanding learning opportunities through its Jatim World Class Education programme, which includes strengthening vocational education, higher education and Islamic boarding-school education.

“Through scholarships for outstanding santri, stronger vocational education and prestigious collaboration with King’s College London, we are developing talent that can compete internationally. We want to ensure that every child in East Java finds the best space in which to grow and flourish,” she said.

In healthcare, coverage under the public health insurance scheme in East Java reached 96.12 per cent by September 2026, while life expectancy stood at 75.36 years.

Through the Jatim Harmoni and Jatim Lestari programmes, Khofifah also emphasised inclusive development that takes environmental sustainability into account.

“East Java’s role as the New Gateway to the Archipelago must also bring increasingly equitable benefits within the province,” she said.

Khofifah said the Javanese philosophy Jer Basuki Mawa Beya is a reminder that success requires commitment, hard work and sacrifice.

She therefore called on all sections of society to strengthen cooperation and collaboration to continue East Java’s development.

Thirteen figures received gold-category awards. They included Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji; Deputy Attorney General for Civil and Administrative Affairs R. Narendra Jatna; East Java Chief Prosecutor Abdul Qohar AF; East Java Regional Secretary Adhy Karyono; and East Java Provincial National Narcotics Agency chief Brigadier General Budi Mulyanto.