Coordination Meeting on Results of Regional Cooperation Development Studies Based on Local Superior Potential

Over the past year, Article 33 Indonesia has collaborated with the Ministry Coordinator for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in carrying out study of regional development based on local superior potential in supporting national economic recovery from the impact of Covid-19. To obtain input from the results of the study, coordination meetings were held regularly hybrid on Monday (20/03/2023) in the PMK 10th Floor Meeting Room which was attended by representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for PMK, namely Mrs. Mustikorini Indrijatiningrum and Brother Muhammad Rifki Ananda. Representatives from Article 33 Indonesia, namely Mr. Santoso together with Sister Salsabila Kusumawardani, Sister Safira Ryanatami, Brother Abdurrahman Harits, and Brother Muhammad Ghaniy Candra Mahendra. Representatives from FES, namely Mrs. Mian Manurung and Sister Elda Claudia. Apart from that, this coordination meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), namely Sister Undhan Sevisari and Sister Mahasika Dian A., as well as representatives from the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT), namely Mrs Rachmawati and Mr Abdi Rizal. The aim of this activity is to open a space for discussion and input regarding the results of research conducted by Article 33 Indonesia and FES as researchers.

Conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic have had a devastating impact on many sectors of life. Activities outside the home are limited and economic transactions in the market are minimal, making the world economy 'sluggish', including Indonesia. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia experienced a contraction in economic growth of -2.07 percent. A year after the Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia's economic conditions are starting to recover, and every aspect of society is slowly starting to adapt to current conditions. As of 2021, Indonesia's economic growth has increased by 3.70 percent, and in 2022 it will grow by 5.31 percent.

In supporting national economic recovery, Article 33 Indonesia is collaborating with FES together with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture to explore superior (local) potential in the Lake Toba region. The Lake Toba region is one of the areas that has quite high tourist value in Indonesia. With its tourism value being quite high, the Article 33 Indonesia team is trying to explore other potential, especially MSMEs, to grow the economy of the community around the Lake Toba area, as well as to empower the community through absorbing labor for businesses. And it is hoped that it can be implemented by the Regional Government (that location) to determine priorities for regional development.