West Java Seeks Data Interoperability with Investment Ministry to Streamline Business Licensing
JAKARTA – West Java Provincial Secretary Herman Suryatman visited the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry/BKPM on Friday (25/7/2025) with a clear mission: to integrate data systems so they no longer operate in isolation.
Accompanied by West Java provincial officials, Herman was received by Deputy for Investment Climate Development Riyanto and Deputy for Information Technology Ricky Kusmayadi. The objective was to establish data interoperability — making systems communicate with one another rather than operating independently.
"Data is like rice. If you just store it, it goes stale. But if you cook it properly, it can become policy that everyone can digest," said Herman. He raised the issue of the OSS system, business identification numbers (NIB), and digitalisation of the licensing sector, which ideally should be able to exchange information seamlessly.
According to Herman, interconnected data would enable the government to determine whether business growth is aligned with labour absorption. If not, training programmes could be deployed immediately.
"If there are gaps causing low labour absorption, we can close them — not with cement, but with training," he said.
However, Herman was not merely seeking smooth data flows for investment figures. He stressed that West Java does not want to become a province that is statistically wealthy but ecologically damaged.
"Investment is fine, but we must not let the future leak away because of short-term development. We don't want our grandchildren playing in sand at abandoned mines instead of beaches," he said, emphasising that ideal development must yield long-term results.
Herman articulated a three-pronged policy philosophy: good data, good decision, good result — meaning that if the data is flawed, one cannot expect sound decisions or outcomes.
BKPM Deputy Ricky Kusmayadi appeared pleased to hear of West Java's plans to seriously develop a digital business licensing system. "We welcome this. But the system must not only be sophisticated — the connectivity must also be reliable," Ricky remarked.
He also expressed hope that the collaboration would go beyond photo opportunities and social media posts, becoming a genuinely functioning system. "May West Java continue to grow, and not just in annual reports," he concluded.
Accompanied by West Java provincial officials, Herman was received by Deputy for Investment Climate Development Riyanto and Deputy for Information Technology Ricky Kusmayadi. The objective was to establish data interoperability — making systems communicate with one another rather than operating independently.
"Data is like rice. If you just store it, it goes stale. But if you cook it properly, it can become policy that everyone can digest," said Herman. He raised the issue of the OSS system, business identification numbers (NIB), and digitalisation of the licensing sector, which ideally should be able to exchange information seamlessly.
According to Herman, interconnected data would enable the government to determine whether business growth is aligned with labour absorption. If not, training programmes could be deployed immediately.
"If there are gaps causing low labour absorption, we can close them — not with cement, but with training," he said.
However, Herman was not merely seeking smooth data flows for investment figures. He stressed that West Java does not want to become a province that is statistically wealthy but ecologically damaged.
"Investment is fine, but we must not let the future leak away because of short-term development. We don't want our grandchildren playing in sand at abandoned mines instead of beaches," he said, emphasising that ideal development must yield long-term results.
Herman articulated a three-pronged policy philosophy: good data, good decision, good result — meaning that if the data is flawed, one cannot expect sound decisions or outcomes.
BKPM Deputy Ricky Kusmayadi appeared pleased to hear of West Java's plans to seriously develop a digital business licensing system. "We welcome this. But the system must not only be sophisticated — the connectivity must also be reliable," Ricky remarked.
He also expressed hope that the collaboration would go beyond photo opportunities and social media posts, becoming a genuinely functioning system. "May West Java continue to grow, and not just in annual reports," he concluded.