"What makes land important? It is the fact that land affects productivity, and we require land to carry out various development projects," he remarked in Jakarta on Friday.
AHY also underlined the importance of providing clarity on the function of each land parcel or area.
"It is important to determine which plot is for an industrial zone, which one is for a plantation, which one is for housing, and which one is for a rice field. We should not convert all land plots into concrete buildings," he explained.
The minister then highlighted the need to ensure that no land is abandoned in order to pursue equitable development. To this end, he urged people to make the most of the land parcels they own.
"Our lands, as assets, should function properly," he emphasized.
AHY stated that the government had taken measures to provide citizens with legal certainty over the status of the land plots they own, including through the issuance of land certificates.
He expressed optimism about such certificates being a reliable instrument for preventing land conflicts that could be incited by land mafia.
"We cannot afford to let anyone experience unjust acts, such as illegal occupation of land by the land mafia. The government will take firm actions to tackle such a problem," he affirmed.
He also believed that the legal certainty offered by certificates would, in turn, lead to a boost in Indonesia's economy.
"Legal certainty over land plots is a prerequisite to investment. In this regard, it is safe to say that spatial planning and agrarian affairs can have direct impacts on economic growth and transformation," he concluded.
President Joko Widodo has been consistent in driving his administration to bring equitable development to all Indonesian regions since 2014.
Acknowledging the importance of land to achieve that goal, the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Ministry has placed focus on identifying ways to ensure that Indonesia's lands remain productive and that they are utilized in accordance with designated spatial planning.
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Translator: Aji C, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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