Regent: Cilacap is ready to be an economic driver in South Java

CILACAP - Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman said that Cilacap Regency, Central Java, is ready to become an economic driver for the southern part of Java Island through strengthening infrastructure, increasing investment, and cross-regional collaboration and stakeholders.

When he was a keynote speaker in the Public Discussion "Jasela Province Prospects for the Progress and Welfare of the Community" at the Wijayakusuma Cakti Palace, Cilacap, Saturday, Syamsul said that the southern area of Central Java has great potential to be developed as a new economic growth center, with Cilacap as one of the areas that has strategic advantages in terms of geography and infrastructure.

"Cilacap is ready. We are optimistic that we have enough facilities and support, especially ports, to encourage the growth of the South Java region's economy," he said in a discussion held by the DPD RI in collaboration with the Indonesian Islamic Student Association Alumni Corps (KAHMI) Cilacap.

He said the idea of South Java emerged from the awareness of the similarities in the characteristics of the region, culture, and the economic potential of a number of districts on the south side of Central Java.

According to him, the discussion is an important space to review the opportunities for the development of the area together.

He also touched on the discussion of revising the regional government law which has the potential to change the concept of territorial expansion.

In the future, he said, expansion is not only based on people's aspirations from below, but also considers indicators set by the central government.

"If the concept is a preparation area with direct support from the center, including infrastructure budgets, it will certainly ease the fiscal burden of the region and accelerate the readiness of the government," he said.

He admitted that the current regional fiscal conditions still face challenges, so a more effective development strategy is needed that is oriented towards community needs.

Based on local government data, he continued, most of the public aspirations are still related to infrastructure, followed by education and health.

"We are still focused on completing basic needs, especially infrastructure, because it is the foundation for other sectors to grow," he said.

In an effort to accelerate economic growth, he said the Cilacap Regency Government is open to investment by providing ease of licensing and certainty of spatial planning.

He emphasized that investment was the key to creating new jobs and encouraging the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"Investment will create new industries, open up jobs, and grow MSMEs. The impact will be felt directly by the community," he said.

Apart from the industrial sector, he said, the Cilacap Regency Government also encourages the development of creative economy, art, culture, and tourism as an attraction for the region.

He assessed that Cilacap has historical and cultural potential that can be packaged into a community-based economic strength.

"Cilacap does not only want to be known as an industrial area, but also as an area that lives with art, culture, and tourism activities," he said.

He said that regional development could not be done by the government alone, but required collaboration from various parties, including communities, academics, the business world, and the media.

"The region can progress not only because of large budgets, but because of strong collaboration. With togetherness, Cilacap and the South Java region can grow more optimally," he emphasized.

Through the strengthening of Cilacap's role as an economic and logistics node, Regent Syamsul hopes that the South Java region can develop faster and contribute more to the overall Central Java economy (economic drivers).

The public discussion featured three panelists, namely Abdul Kholik (member of the DPD RI), Bambang Suharto (entrepreneur/Presidium of West Cilacap Development), and Djadjat Sudradjat (journalist).