Rano asks Abang None to understand Jakarta's development direction

Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno has advised the finalists of Abang None Jakarta 2026 to understand the history, development, and direction of Jakarta as it transforms into a global city. He said this knowledge is an important asset when introducing Jakarta to the world. “That is your task, to introduce what Jakarta is. From number 74, Jakarta has now become number 71 on the Global Cities Index,” Rano said at the opening of the Abang None Jakarta 2026 selection series in Jakarta on Thursday. He expressed hope that the finalists would become a young generation with character, achievement, and the ability to make a real contribution to Jakarta’s progress. This year, the Abang None Jakarta pageant is being held for the 54th time and is being contested by 36 finalists representing the five administrative cities and the Thousand Islands Administrative Regency. The event is projected to produce a young generation ready to become cultural ambassadors and the face of Jakarta ahead of the commemoration of five centuries of Jakarta City in 2027. “The Abang None pageant is a space to preserve cultural heritage while preparing a superior, creative young generation of Jakarta who love their city’s identity, especially the richness of Betawi culture,” Rano said. Meanwhile, Head of the DKI Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Andhika Permata, said this year’s selection process is designed to recruit young people who not only have good communication skills and appearance but also understand tourism and creative economy development. He explained that the assessment of the 18 pairs of finalists is carried out by a cross-disciplinary jury panel using several indicators, including knowledge about Jakarta, communication skills, leadership, global and creative mindset, and the ability to collaborate and provide solutions. “Through these criteria, we hope Abang None Jakarta will become a representation of a new generation capable of carrying the spirit of Jakarta as a global city,” Andhika added.