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Harnessing the Potential of
'Growth Tier' Cities
Tempo, September 18, 2006
The six "growth tier" cities (Banjarmasin,
Balikpapan, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Lampung and
Padang) have an important role to play as regards "sustainable
utilization of resources". If a balance
has to be struck between development and environmental
concerns then the sustainability debate and coordination
must shift from western capitals or Jakarta to
these smaller cities that are at the frontline.
Local provincial governments need to be engaged
and the buy-in of their constituents obtained.
Otherwise the gap between "seminar pledges" and
reality will continue to widen.
From a social perspective these six cities also
offer the govenment an opportunity to provide
an exciting alternative to youngsters facing
a future of struggle, inconsistent employment
and high cost of living. Naturally, given bad
memories of the coercive transmigration policies
of the past, the focus of the government should
principally be on educating its youth and facilitating
voluntary relocation. Current awareness levels
amongst large sections of the country's youth
about non Java employment options is abysmally
low.
These cities also deserve significantly higher
levels of investment in their infrastructure.
Without this they will not be able to cope with
the continued high demand for commodities. Social
infrastructure must also get due attention. Large
parts of these cities still do not reflect the
high economic contributions being made and this
can breed disontent in the long term.
Development of the critical six is a true test
of Indonesia's decentralization program and the
ability of the nation's leaders to broaden horizons
beyond Jakarta - at a picture that is far more
promising and will remain so for the foreseeable
future.
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