Starting from 2018, these 25 regions have actually shown improvement.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has informed that 25 of the 62 disadvantaged Indonesian regions targeted by the 2020–2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) have shed their "disadvantaged" status.

The ministry's acting deputy for coordination of equal development and disaster management, Sorni Easter Daeli, said on Monday that the 25 regions are spread across Sumatra, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, and Papua.

"In 2025, these 25 regions are no longer disadvantaged areas and will be free from the stigma of being underdeveloped areas," he added.

Daeli informed that the assessment of the "disadvantaged areas" status was based on data from 2022 to 2023 and the Disadvantaged Regions Index value, which needed to be above 60 for them to qualify for a change in status.

"Starting from 2018, these 25 regions have actually shown improvement. In fact, one region has an index value above 73, namely North Lombok district," he added.

Toward the close of the 2020–2024 RPJMN, there is a possibility of three to four additional regions shedding the "disadvantaged region" tag, he informed.

"We are still looking at its characteristics based on the calculation of the composite index numbers, but the government has not yet determined it. However, the trend shows positive progress in those regions," he added.

Regarding only 25 out of 62 regions making the cut, Daeli said that the government will use this result as an evaluation to help other regions leave their "disadvantaged" status.

One of the hurdles to achieving this target is infrastructure, which has a large point load in the Disadvantaged Regions Index value, he explained adding, in some areas such as Papua, the government is still accelerating infrastructure development.

"We are also conducting discussions, especially with the relevant ministries/institutions regarding this indicator. If we think it is no longer suitable, then adjustments will need to be made. Later, this indicator will be included in the 2025–2029 RPJMN," he said.

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Translator: Sean Filo, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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