Kulonprogo Named Best in Regency-Level Unemployment Reduction

The 2026 Prestigious Local Government Appreciation event for the Java-Bali region left a positive impression on the Kulonprogo Regency Government. At the event, Kulonprogo successfully achieved the top award in the Regency-Level Unemployment Reduction category. The highest honour was presented directly by the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam), Djamari Chaniago, at the Marriott Hotel in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Thursday evening (4/6). Kulonprogo Regent R Agung Setyawan personally received the award. In addition to the trophy, the Kulonprogo Regency Government is entitled to receive an appreciation in the form of a Regional Incentive Fund (DID) amounting to Rp3 billion. He explained that the fiscal incentive will be managed for regional development, particularly for improving basic facilities in the health and infrastructure sectors for all residents of Kulonprogo. Agung Setyawan stated that this achievement is the fruit of effective, concrete work in the tourism, MSME, culinary, and arts and culture sectors. As a result, new jobs became accessible to the community, reducing the unemployment rate. ‘Based on information from the Ministry of Home Affairs team, the assessment was conducted by taking sample data in the Ngglinggo Tourism Area, Girimulyo, and Wates Square,’ he explained. According to Agung, the tourism, culture, and MSME sectors became levers for economic movement and absorbed labour in Kulonprogo Regency. He added that this award is the result of commitment and collective work, successfully lowering the unemployment rate. The assessment was deemed objective as it was based on a study by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and direct verification in the field. For the Regency-Level Unemployment Reduction Category, besides Kulonprogo winning Best I, Pacitan was judged Best II, and Jombang was Best III.