“Inter-regional cooperation is no longer merely an administrative option, but has become a national strategic necessity,” Wiyagus said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
He conveyed the statement during the Gala Dinner of the Mitra Praja Utama (MPU) Regional Collaboration Forum gathering in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday (May 11).
Furthermore, Wiyagus expressed hope that the MPU forum would produce strategic and applicable measures to strengthen synergy between the central and regional governments in maintaining national economic stability.
“I also encourage MPU to become a foundation for adaptive and innovative inter-regional cooperation capable of producing concrete solutions to various cross-regional issues, including inflation control, food security, energy strengthening, disaster handling, as well as security and public order stability,” he remarked.
According to him, inter-regional synergy and collaboration have now become a necessity in addressing various global challenges, ranging from the energy crisis and climate change to global geopolitical uncertainty.
Wiyagus also highlighted the strategic role of the ten MPU member provinces, which he said possess strong fiscal capacity and make major contributions to the national economy.
He noted that the Java region currently contributes more than 57 percent to national economic growth, so the potential of each region needs to complement one another through their respective comparative advantages.
To strengthen national resilience, he encouraged stronger inter-regional connectivity in the logistics, trade, energy, and government digitalization sectors.
Regions with food surpluses are expected to support areas in need, while regions with high local revenue (PAD) are encouraged to become drivers of regional development.
Translator: Fianda, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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