PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Head of West Java Bappeda Iendra Sofyan said that West Java is an Inner and Outer Champion with Innovation and Collaboration which is the vision and mission in the 2018-2023 RPJMD has been completed.

West Java is an Inner Born Champion is a development concept carried out with an approach that is pro change, equality, people's economy and economically weak groups, environment and spatial planning, and pro sustainable development.

"The journey to realize this vision and mission can never be separated from collaboration with all development stakeholders using the pentahelix concept: academics, business, community, government and media," said Iendra Sofyan at the Bewara West Java (Beja) Vol. 1, in the East Hall of Gedung Sate, Bandung City, Tuesday (9/1/2024).

According to Iendra, 2023, which has just passed, is the closing year of the 2018-2023 Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD).

During those five years, said Iendra, there were several achievements that were felt. For example, the open unemployment rate, which had soared during the pandemic to 10.46 percent, was able to be reduced to 7.44 percent.

"West Java has made a big contribution as the province that contributed to the largest reduction in the number of unemployed in Indonesia, namely 300 thousand people," said Iendra.

Meanwhile, the rate of economic growth (LPE) managed to recover quickly after the pandemic in 2022 and was even the highest in Java, although in 2023 it contracted slightly.

This cannot be separated from the weakening of the agricultural sector throughout 2023 due to the drought phenomenon (El Nino). Then, the poor population, which increased in number in 2021 to 4.2 million, will fall to 3.89 million in 2023.

This means that as many as 310,000 poor people were no longer poor in the last two years.

"On the other hand, the improvement in inequality in social welfare in 2023 shows that there is an increase in the recovery of the economic conditions of the lower strata of society compared to 2019," he said.

According to Iendra, during the 2018-2023 period the West Java Human Development Index continued to increase. Including life expectancy, expected length of schooling, and average length of schooling. All these development achievements are proven by the 579 awards won during the 2018-2023 period.

"A number of these achievements then became the priority agenda for the West Java Provincial Government in 2024," said Iendra.

According to Iendra, the 2024-2026 West Java Regional Development Plan (RPD) has five main targets. Namely, improving the quality of human resources, sustainable inclusive economic growth, equitable regional development supported by quality infrastructure and a sustainable environment, as well as quality democracy and bureaucracy and supported by regional innovation.

Specifically in terms of infrastructure, environment, transportation, housing and settlements, water resources, and community development, will be the main development priorities.