Population Minister Designates 15 Regions as Demographic Bonus Capitalisation Models

The Minister of Population and Family Development, Wihaji, has designated 15 regencies and cities as model areas for implementing the Population Development Roadmap (PJPK) to optimise the demographic bonus. Speaking in Cibinong, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Monday, Wihaji stated that the 15 regions were invited to synergise central and local government programmes as part of efforts to better manage population development. The selected areas include Balikpapan, Padang, Lima Puluh Kota, South Tangerang, Pandeglang, Bandung, Indramayu, Sumedang, Sragen, Pekalongan, Surabaya, Kediri, Lumajang, Sidoarjo, and Makassar. The future national capital, Ibu Kota Nusantara, is also participating in the five-day synergy event. Wihaji explained that the roadmap is designed to provide each local government with a development direction suited to its specific demographic characteristics. He noted that executing the 30 priority indicators is expected to automatically raise the Human Development Index by improving average years of schooling, life expectancy, and per capita income. He acknowledged that human development poses unique challenges as its results are not immediately visible like physical infrastructure, and that securing adequate financing remains a key hurdle. To address this, the ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide incentives for regional governments that successfully implement the indicators.