Inclusive Leadership Seen as Key to Addressing Regional Development Challenges
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Central Executive Board (PP) of Pemuda Katolik, Stefanus Gusma, believes that inclusive leadership can address current regional development challenges.
According to him, regional development challenges cannot be solved in a sectoral manner, thus requiring inclusive leadership that can build synergy between the government, civil society, the business world, and youth organizations.
“Pemuda Katolik cadres must be present as drivers of social and economic development in their respective regions,” said Gusma in a statement received in Jakarta, Friday.
Therefore, he affirmed that Pemuda Katolik is ready to support development and collaborate with all parties.
Gusma said that Pemuda Katolik has the motto Pro Ecclesia et Patria, which means “For Church and Nation”.
Thus, they held the Pemuda Katolik Advanced Leadership Training (KKL I) 2026 in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung, on Thursday (May 14), with the theme of Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership in Overseeing Development and Accelerating Sustainable Regional Economic Growth.
According to him, KKL I is a strategic cadre space to produce young leaders who have a commitment to the church and the nation.
KKL I was opened by the Deputy Head of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Regulatory Agency, Aminudin Ma’ruf. He highlighted the importance of creating a healthier economic space for young people and local business actors.
Aminudin said that many large companies, including SOEs, are currently expanding their business too far outside their core business, thus narrowing the space for MSMEs and young entrepreneurs.
“If large companies enter all business sectors, where is the space for young people to develop?” asked Aminudin.
He explained that the government is simplifying the SOE business entities from 1,080 to around 200 companies so that they are more focused on core business and open up wider economic opportunities for the community.
This step is considered in line with the theme of KKL I about accelerating sustainable regional economic growth, namely economic development that provides space for local strengths to grow.
Meanwhile, Bishop of Pangkalpinang, Mgr. Adrianus Sunarko, said that Indonesia needs young leaders who are not only competent in organization, but also have social empathy, a spirit of collaboration, and the courage to be present in the midst of community problems.
He also gave an example of the leadership model of Jesus Christ who formed the apostles not with power, but through a process of guidance, service, and exemplary life.
According to Sunarko, the apostles were not immediately perfect. They had experienced fear, lost direction, and even returned to their old lives after Jesus died on the cross.
“After Jesus died, the disciples scattered. Peter returned to being a fisherman and was followed by the other disciples, they felt hopeless,” said Sunarko.
However, it was from this experience of falling and getting up that Jesus formed the apostles into strong leaders, who were brave to testify, and ready to serve the people, he added.
In the Pemuda Katolik 2026 KKL I, as many as 107 participants from 20 provinces were present, starting with the Eucharistic Celebration.
Also present were the Deputy for Technical Support of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), Yusti Erlina, Head of Social and Cultural Affairs of the National Police Headquarters, Yohanes Agus Rijanto, Director General of Catholic Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Religion, Suparman, Chief of Police of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Irjen Pol. Victor Sihombing, to the Executive Secretary of the KWI Laity Commission, Romo Hans Jeharut.
In addition, there were also the regional leadership coordination forum (forkopimda) of the Bangka Belitung Province, members of the DPRD, the Pemuda Katolik expert council, and other invited guests including Catholic people from various parishes, Young Catholic Organizations (OMK), interfaith youth organizations, seminarians from Joen Boen Pangkalpinang, to students from SMA St. Yoseph and SMK Tunas Karya Pangkalpinang.