Khofifah: Synergy is the Key to East Java's Development Success
Surabaya (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has emphasised that synergy between government, business, higher education, pesantren, and society is the key to successful development in the province, alongside continuous improvements in economic growth, education, and food security achievements.
“The key is synergy. It is impossible for us to succeed alone. Collaboration between central government, provincial, district and city levels, business world, higher education, and pesantren forms an important strength for East Java’s development,” Khofifah stated while attending Lemhannas Goes to Campus at Universitas KH Abdul Chalim, Pondok Pesantren Amanatul Ummah, Pacet, Mojokerto, as per the statement on Wednesday.
Khofifah conveyed that East Java’s economic growth in the first quarter of 2026 reached 5.96% year-on-year, the highest on Java Island and exceeding the national achievement.
“I want to convey that in the first quarter, year-on-year, the highest economic growth on Java Island is East Java. This is not something simple. Indeed, we have built synergy and collaboration, but the prayers of all of you strengthen our achievements, and hopefully, it aligns with Allah’s will,” she said.
According to Khofifah, East Java’s economic growth is supported by the processing industry sector at 31.45%, trade at 18.77%, agriculture at 10.51%, and 14 other sectors at 39.27%.
Additionally, the agriculture sector absorbs around 7.38 million workers, trade 4.69 million workers, industry 3.36 million workers, and other sectors 8.42 million workers.
In the education sector, the East Java Provincial Government has recorded being the province with the highest number of senior high school (SMA), vocational high school (SMK), and madrasah aliyah (MA) students accepted into state universities through the non-exam pathway for seven consecutive years.
Based on data from the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP) 2026 released by the National New Student Admission Selection (SNPMB), 29,046 students from East Java were accepted into state universities out of a total of 108,122 registrants.
“Extraordinary hard work and the prayers accompanying all our efforts have resulted in East Java’s SMA, SMK, and Aliyah students topping state university admissions without exams for seven consecutive years,” Khofifah said.
The East Java Provincial Government also implements several human resource (HR) strengthening programmes, including SMK revitalisation, double-track schools, boarding schools, education assistance for students from pre-prosperous families, and scholarship programmes.
A total of 6,575,603 students are recorded as receiving Operational Support Costs for Education Delivery (BPOPP), while early religious education assistance and private teachers reach 5,347,905 students as well as 284,900 teachers and ustadz.
In the food sector, Khofifah emphasised that East Java is one of the main pillars of national food security.
“If President Prabowo mandates food security, then its granary is in East Java. Even now, we are moving towards sustainable food sovereignty,” she asserted.
Based on 2025 data, East Java’s rice production reached 10.43 million tonnes, up from 9.23 million tonnes in 2024, while rice production reached 6.03 million tonnes, an increase of 12.60% compared to the previous year.
The Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock at the East Java Regional Office of the Logistics Agency (Bulog) was also recorded as the highest nationally, amounting to 822,854 tonnes.
Meanwhile, Governor of the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lemhannas RI) TB Ace Hasan Syadzily assessed that the East Java Provincial Government’s steps in strengthening education and youth development are on the right track to welcome Indonesia’s Golden 2045.
“I am pleased that East Java under the leadership of the Governor continues to promote the quality of human resources. Because today, what will determine the quality of Indonesia in 2045 is how we build the young generation now,” said Ace Hasan.
He also appreciated East Java’s achievements in strengthening national food security and sovereignty.
“The food security built by East Java is an important part in strengthening national resilience and supporting the realisation of Indonesia’s Golden 2045,” he stated.