North Sumatra Governor backs creative villages and urban wards through KKSB programme
The programme is expected to strengthen local identity and creativity, while boosting the productivity of areas and encouraging economic growth in communities.
Medan (ANTARA) - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Afif Nasution is supporting regency and municipal governments across the province in developing creative villages and urban wards through the Kampung Kreatif Sumut Berkah (KKSB) programme.
“The programme is expected to strengthen local identity and creativity, while boosting the productivity of areas and encouraging economic growth in communities,” Bobby said after hearing presentations from the shortlisted candidates for the 2026 Kampung Kreatif Sumut Berkah awards at the North Sumatra Governor’s Office in Medan on Monday.
He said the 2026 KKSB programme had received 45 proposals from villages and urban wards across North Sumatra’s regencies and municipalities.
The selection team had completed several stages of evaluation, he said, including a plenary meeting to review assessment results from document verification and field validation.
“There are several assessment indicators that must be met. One is that a village has a problem or challenge, but also has potential,” Bobby said.
He cited areas with rivers or tributaries that had become eyesores or dumping grounds as an example.
“This is considered a problem, but it has the potential to be turned into a solution. The solution can then create additional economic potential,” Bobby said.
He also listened to presentations by the shortlisted candidates for the 2026 KKSB programme.
Three regencies in North Sumatra were shortlisted: Serdang Bedagai, Deli Serdang and Humbang Hasundutan.
The 2026 Kampung Kreatif Sumut Berkah programme is a Regional Strategic Programme under the leadership of North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution and Deputy Governor Surya.
The North Sumatra provincial government has set aside up to Rp50 billion in special assistance for villages and urban wards to support the programme.
The presentations were delivered by Serdang Bedagai Regent Darma Wijaya, Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan and Humbang Hasundutan Regent Oloan Paniaran Nababan, Bobby said.
Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan, one of the shortlisted candidates, outlined plans to develop a tourism centre for ornamental plants in Deli Serdang, to be called Harapan Square.
“The ornamental-plant tourism area is in hamlets VII–XI, Bangun Sari Baru village, Tanjungmorawa district, Deli Serdang regency,” he said.
The regent said Bangun Sari Baru was a lowland area about 25 kilometres from Medan.
Its strategic location could make it a potential new destination for tourists arriving at Kualanamu International Airport.
“Local people already sell ornamental plants in the area, but it is not yet organised. Harapan Square will make the site more orderly and add value,” Asri said.