To Resolve Urban Issues, Bima Arya Pushes for Sectoral-Based Agglomeration
Bima explained that the concept of agglomeration is not new. However, its implementation is often hindered by an excessive focus on institutional aspects, resulting in suboptimal handling of cross-regional issues such as flooding, traffic congestion, and waste.
“In China, sir, they have progressed like this until now because their agglomeration works. It is regulated by the centre, given models by the centre, so it relies on agglomeration. They can’t do it individually,” Bima stated in a written remark on Wednesday (29/4/2026).
He delivered these remarks at the National Seminar Discussion on Agglomeration at the Sustainable Aglo-City Summit 2026 held at Novotel Tangerang BSD City, Tangerang Regency, Banten, today.
Bima elaborated that the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has been mandated to ensure effective synchronisation, synergy, and collaboration among stakeholders. According to him, this approach is crucial so that development policies do not proceed partially but within an integrated ecosystem.
At the seminar, he also emphasised the need to shift the approach from institutional to sectoral to enable faster and more concrete resolution of problems on the ground. “Focus directly on issues and sectors,” he explained.
Bima also cited waste management and transportation as key issues in agglomeration areas that require a sectoral approach. He assessed that the Waste Management to Electricity Programme (PSEL) and the Local Service Delivery Improvement Programme (LSDP) represent direct central government interventions focused on concretely resolving problems.
Furthermore, cross-regional transportation integration is deemed able to proceed more effectively if supported by clear authority, financing schemes, and inter-regional coordination within the agglomeration framework.
Bima affirmed that with support from the central government and commitment from local governments, the concept of agglomeration based on a sectoral approach has strong prospects as a long-term solution to addressing urban area issues.