Weaving the Nation from the City: The Strategic Message of the APEKSI National Working Meeting

No city truly stands alone. A road in one region can facilitate food distribution to another, while digital innovation from a single city can inspire public service improvements in dozens of others. Amid fiscal pressures, climate change, rapid urbanisation, and increasing demands for public services, city governments must move more agilely. Cities are no longer just administrative territories; they are centres of economic activity, education, and innovation.

The 2026 National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) in Medan, North Sumatra, carried a significance that transcended a routine annual agenda. It demonstrated a fundamental change in how city governments perceive their role in tackling development challenges. The forum was not positioned as a space to merely list problems to the central government, but rather as an arena for sharing solutions, strengthening collaboration, and formulating policy recommendations based on practical field experience.

This marks a commendable paradigm shift. For years, the relationship between the central and regional governments was often perceived as a one-way street. Now, through APEKSI, a more equal approach is emerging where regions bring data, innovations, and proven experiences to the table. The greatest strength of city governments, as highlighted by the meeting, lies not in the size of their budgets but in their capacity for innovation. Various cities have proven that resource limitations are not a barrier to breakthroughs. Surabaya has successfully boosted its locally-generated revenue through parking digitalisation. Malang developed an electronic tax system that simplifies processes for taxpayers while strengthening regional income. These are just a few examples of how local innovations can become a collective reference for building a better nation.