Pekanbaru and Bandung Sign MoU to Boost Development and Air Connectivity
The Pekanbaru City Government and the Bandung City Government have officially established a partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Bandung, West Java. The agreement is a strategic move by Pekanbaru to accelerate regional development and elevate the Riau capital’s competitiveness to match other major Indonesian cities.
Pekanbaru Mayor Agung Nugroho stated that the cooperation covers various strategic sectors, including public services, investment, digital governance, increasing locally generated revenue (PAD), urban area planning, creative economy development, and strengthening inter-regional connectivity.
A significant point of the meeting was support for the planned reopening of Husein Sastranegara Airport on 17 September. Mayor Agung noted that this momentum must be harnessed to push for the resumption of a direct flight route between Pekanbaru and Bandung. “We welcome the reopening of Husein Sastranegara Airport. Together with the Bandung City Government, we hope to propose to the Ministry of Transportation, airport operators, and airlines that the direct Pekanbaru-Bandung route be reopened immediately,” he said.
Agung explained that a direct flight would facilitate the mobility of citizens, business actors, students, tourists, and government officials. He added that improved connectivity would open broader opportunities for cooperation in investment, trade, education, small and medium enterprises, the creative economy, and health services, ultimately benefiting the communities of both cities. Pekanbaru is also projected to benefit from increased visits from West Java residents, which would positively impact the hospitality, culinary, and entertainment sectors, as well as boost locally generated revenue.
Beyond tourism, the cooperation is expected to strengthen the trade supply chain between Sumatra and Java. With shorter travel times, the distribution of goods and the mobility of business actors are expected to become more efficient, thereby enhancing the economic competitiveness of both regions. Mayor Agung added that the Pekanbaru City Government is committed to providing convenience for investors and business actors from Bandung through a fast, easy, and transparent digital licensing system.
The partnership also serves as a means for Pekanbaru to learn from Bandung’s successes in urban development, including strategies for increasing local revenue, managing historical areas, arranging city parks and green open spaces, organising utility networks and fibre optic cables, and developing innovative digital governance and public services. Both local governments also committed to strengthening cooperation in education, health, and public services, including facilitating easier access to services for Pekanbaru residents currently in Bandung, particularly students.
Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan welcomed the collaboration, viewing inter-city cooperation as a vital step for exchanging experiences and innovations to accelerate regional development. He expressed appreciation for the developments in Pekanbaru under Mayor Agung Nugroho’s leadership, noting that the positive public response to various programmes reflects a strong commitment to better governance. Farhan expressed hope that the MoU would not merely be ceremonial but would be followed by concrete programmes delivering real benefits to both communities, including the push to reopen the direct flight route to strengthen connectivity and cooperation across various sectors.
Agung emphasised that the signing of the MoU is not just a ceremony but a concrete step to build inter-regional networks to accelerate Pekanbaru’s progress. “Through this collaboration, we aim to bring Pekanbaru further forward, improve the quality of public services, strengthen the regional economy, expand investment, build better connectivity, and realise Pekanbaru as a city on par with other major cities in Indonesia,” he concluded.