He made the statement during a meeting with PPU District Head, Mudyat Noor, and Deputy District Head Abdul Waris Muin at the Bappenas office in Jakarta.
"The master plan for PPU District will focus on smart city development, green economy based on local potential, tourism that supports IKN, as well as strengthening human resources and basic infrastructure," Rachmat noted in an official statement on Tuesday.
The meeting marked an initial step toward building synergy between the central and regional governments while also aligning the development direction of PPU Regency as a buffer zone for IKN—a region facing both major opportunities and significant challenges.
One of the main challenges is the limited availability of local labor, which is not yet fully supported by a skilled, qualified, and competent workforce to meet the demands of regional transformation.
According to the Bappenas chief, the success of national development depends heavily on the quality of regional planning and implementation.
Given its vast land resources, PPU District is seen as having strategic opportunities that must be managed collaboratively.
The minister also emphasized that designating an area as a National Strategic Project (PSN) should be based on clear and measurable indicators.
"We want every decision to be based on measurable criteria to avoid disputes. There must be objective benchmarks as the foundation for such designation," he affirmed.
PPU District was established under Law No. 7 of 2002 as a result of a division from Paser District, previously spanning 333,306 hectares.
Currently, PPU covers 243,292.61 hectares after part of its territory—particularly Sepaku District—was transferred into the IKN administrative area.
The district currently consists of four sub-districts, 24 urban villages, and 30 rural villages.
"We have taken note of several matters that can be immediately followed up. We will work together, because it takes two to tango," the Bappenas chief stated.
"Through focused and collaborative planning, PPU District is expected to grow into a strategic area that not only supports the development of IKN but also delivers tangible benefits to the local community," he concluded.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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