Gov’t Aims to Develop Thirty Two Underdeveloped Regions in 2024

Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar

The Government has announced that in 20214 it will develop 32 underdeveloped regencies, exceeding the target set in the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) at 25 regencies.

“We previously aimed to build 25 out of 62 underdeveloped areas in the 2020-2024 RPJMN so by the end of 2024 there are 37 regencies that are still categorized as underdeveloped areas. However, based on the underdeveloped index data, it is projected that we can build 32 out of 62 underdeveloped regencies so there are only 30 regencies left in 2024,” Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar said, quoted from the official website of the Ministry, Saturday (10/7).

For the record, the Government has set the target of developing underdeveloped regencies each year, including five regencies in 2020, six regencies in 2021, seven regencies in 2022, six regencies in 2023, and eight regencies in 2024.

“We hope we can make it happen,” added Abdul.

Abdul added that the Ministry has designed a number of policies to accelerate development in the underdeveloped regencies by, among others, developing the people economy, improving the quality of human capital, accelerating the development of infrastructure facilities, utilizing technology and information, increasing regional resilience and independence, and fostering underdeveloped regions in 2019, as well as handling the regional economic recovery following COVID-19 pandemic.

In the meantime, he added, the target of accelerating the development of underdeveloped regencies from 2020 to 2024 is set by looking at the percentage of poor people in the underdeveloped areas from 26.12 percent in 2018 to 23.5 – 24 percent in 2024, the Human Development Index (IPM) from 58 percent in 2018 to 62.2 – 62.7 in 2024, the number of underdeveloped areas from 62 to 37 districts and the implementation of coaching in 62 underdeveloped areas that were eradicated in 2019.

“It’s no easy task but we have to be able to achieve that goal. We have to reduce this (number of underdeveloped regencies). We have to work hard,” he said.

Abdul went on to say that as many as 62 underdeveloped regencies that were developed in 2019 will still be coached by ministries/agencies and provincial governments for three years since they were designated as eradicated areas.

“It means that in 2022, the Government will completely put those 62 regencies off the category of underdeveloped areas. There is no more guidance,” he said.

Based on Presidential Regulation Number 63 of 2020 on Determination of Underdeveloped Regions in 2020-2024, there are 62 underdeveloped regencies spread in a number of provinces.

Those regencies are Nias, South Nias, North Nias, and West Nias (North Sumatra province); Mentawai Islands (West Sumatra province); South Musi Rawas (South Sumatra province); West Coast (Lampung province); North Lombok, West Sumba, East Sumba, Kupang, South Central Timor, Belu, Alor, Lembata, Rote Ndao, Central Sumba, Southwest Sumba, East Manggarai, Sabu Raijua, and Malaka (East Nusa Tenggara province); Donggala, Tojo Una-Una, and Sigi (Central Sulawesi province), and West Southeast Maluku, Aru Islands, Western Seram, Eastern Seram, Southwest Maluku, and South Buru (Maluku province).

Other regencies include the Sula Islands and Taliabu Island (North Maluku province); Wondama Bay, Bintuni Bay, South Sorong, Sorong, Tambrauw, Maybrat, South Manokwari, and Arfak Mountains (West Papua province), as well as Jayawijaya, Nabire, Paniai, Puncak Jaya, Boven Digoel, Mappi, Asmat, Yahukimo, Bintang Mountains, Tolikara, Keerom, Waropen, Supiori, Mamberamo Raya, Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Mamberamo Tengah, Yalimo, Puncak, Dogiyai, Intan Jaya, and Deiyai (Papua province). (PR Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration/UN) (EST/EP)