Indonesia's minister urges competition to boost regional performance

He said Indonesia’s decentralized governance gives regions broad authority, making their performance critical to national progress.

“A single underperforming region can affect national results,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

He made the remarks at the 2026 National Governance Awards, aimed at fostering a competitive climate among regional leaders.

The Home Affairs Ministry continues to strengthen regional leadership performance through various initiatives, including award programs.

“We use both formal and informal approaches, but fostering competition among leaders is one of the most effective strategies,” he said, adding

that a “reward and punishment” mechanism has proven effective in motivating leaders from diverse backgrounds to perform better.

The awards also serve as a platform to highlight high-performing regional leaders.

Karnavian welcomed the 2026 National Governance Awards organized by a private television station.

He said involvement from external parties, especially mainstream media, adds value to evaluation and public outreach.

He expressed hope that regions yet to win would be motivated to improve and compete for future awards.

Related news: Riau Islands praised for strong 2025 regional revenue performance

Related news: Improved manufacturing performance can boost regional economy

Translator: Fianda Sjofjan, Raka Adji