South Kalimantan Prepares to Become a New Center for the Economy to Support the Archipelago's IKN

South Kalimantan is prepared to become a new center of economic growth supporting the Archipelago State Capital in East Kalimantan.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

The dance performance of Baksa Kembang was presented at the opening of the Working Meeting of the Association of All Regency Governments in Indonesia (Apkasi) in South Kalimantan in 2023 in Banjarmasin on Monday (19/6/2023).

BANJARMASIN, KOMPAS - The Government of South Kalimantan Province is preparing its region to become a new center for economic growth to support the National Capital of Indonesia in East Kalimantan. Therefore, the regencies in South Kalimantan are encouraged to more actively develop the economic potential in their respective regions.

The push from the provincial government towards the district government was revealed in the working meeting of the Association of All District Governments in Indonesia (Apkasi) in South Kalimantan Region in 2023 in Banjarmasin, on Monday (19/6/2023).

The Governor of South Kalimantan, Sahbirin Noor, through Assistant I for Government and People's Welfare Affairs of the South Kalimantan Regional Secretariat, Nurul Fajar Desira, stated that South Kalimantan is the most important and strategic province because it is located closest to the National Capital Region (IKN) of the Archipelago, which is located in the area of ​​North Penajam Paser Regency.

Districts with large swamp lands are expected to apply the floating rice technology so that rice cultivation in swamp lands no longer needs to wait for the dry season.

Administratively, IKN Nusantara directly borders two regencies in South Kalimantan, namely Tabalong and Kotabaru. Therefore, South Kalimantan must prepare itself to become the gateway of IKN. South Kalimantan must improve in all sectors, including the economic sector. Coal and palm oil cannot always be relied upon as commodities. There are many other economic potentials that can be explored, such as plantations, agriculture, culture and nature-based tourism, and the creative economy.

"I encourage every regional head to more actively develop the potential of their region, regardless of the progress and obstacles that come with it. We need to sit down together to discuss and coordinate the development of each region in South Kalimantan," he said.

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Assistant I for Governance and People's Welfare of the Provincial Secretariat of South Kalimantan, Nurul Fajar Desira, was in Banjarmasin on Monday (19/6/2023).

According to Fajar, the efforts made by the local government so far need to be improved. One example is innovation in the field of agriculture, such as planting rice in swampy land using floating rice technology. This floating rice technology has proven successful in several pilot areas and therefore needs to be adopted and disseminated considering the vast amount of swampy land in South Kalimantan.

Districts with large swamp lands are expected to implement the floating rice technology so that rice cultivation in swamp lands no longer has to wait for the dry season," he said.

Also read: Innovation Prepared to Support South Kalimantan as the Capital City Gate

As the gateway to IKN, Kalsel has the opportunity to advance and go global because it is one of the keys to trade. This position becomes a magnet for investors and other stakeholders. "We have two choices, either we use that momentum well or we are just spectators. Therefore, let us also prepare human resources," he said.

Fajar added, South Kalimantan, as a new economic growth center supporting the IKN, is ultimately expected to play a role in the development of Golden Indonesia 2045. At that time, the per capita income of the Indonesian people must be high. Meanwhile, for now, the income per capita of the people of South Kalimantan is still classified as lower middle income (lower middle income).

"In 2045, the minimum economic growth of all local governments must be 6.5 percent. To achieve this growth, all local governments must identify any potential that can be developed within the next 20 years so that we will not become spectators in the future," he said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

A number of MSME products are showcased during the Apkasi Work Meeting in South Kalimantan Region in 2023 at Banjarmasin on Monday, June 19, 2023.

Keep fighting

Coordinator of the Kalsel Apkasi Region Sukamta, who is also the Regent of Tanah Laut, conveyed that this year's Kalsel Apkasi work meeting raised the theme of developing regional economic potential in order to improve inter-regional cooperation towards Kalsel as a new growth center for the supporting economy of the national industry estate.

"We will continue to strive for the development of regional autonomy and inter-regional cooperation in order to build a new economic strength in South Kalimantan as the gateway to the Nusantara National Industrial Estate," he said.

Also read: The Governor of South Kalimantan Brings Land and Water from Martapura to the Capital City of the Archipelago

According to Sukamta, there are at least four strategic issues that need attention in the implementation of district government and the development of a united and stronger South Kalimantan. First, the improvement of local resource capacity to meet the support needs of IKN.

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South Kalimantan Regional Application Coordinator Sukamta, who is also the Regent of Tanah Laut, in Banjarmasin, Monday (19/6/2023).

Second, the readiness of local governments to face simultaneous general elections in 2024. Third, the management of non-civil servant government employees. Fourth, the equalization of positions and simplification of organizations.

"The four strategic issues are what we will discuss, and it is possible that there will be other aspirations from all regencies in South Kalimantan that must be fought together so that South Kalimantan truly becomes one of the main supports for the Indonesian National Cyber Agency," said Sukamta."

The Deputy Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Local Government Administrations (Apkasi), Erlina, who is also the Regent of Mempawah, West Kalimantan, stated that several strategic issues discussed in the Apkasi regional working meeting will be further discussed at the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of Apkasi in Jakarta on 20-22 July 2023.

"We also hope for the support from all provincial and city governments for the aspirations fought by Apkasi. All regional governments are expected to have a unified voice," he said.