MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian has welcomed an initiative by North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution to bring together the ten governors of Sumatra as part of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) activities in Medan, North Sumatra. The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation among provinces to accelerate development and economic growth across the island of Sumatra.
According to Tito, the forum, which brings together the heads of all provinces in
Sumatra, can serve as a platform for pooling ideas while making better use of the region's diverse potential. He said each province has its own strengths that can complement one another when developed and utilized through more integrated cooperation.
As part of the IMT-GT activities, Bobby Nasution served as moderator and chair of a governor-level meeting involving representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. On the sidelines of the program, Bobby initiated a separate meeting with the governors of Sumatra to discuss various challenges, opportunities and development ideas for the region.
Tito said the governors had put forward various proposals highlighting the importance of closer cooperation and stronger connectivity among the regions. Such cooperation should extend from the provincial level to regencies and cities, particularly in developing economic sectors where individual regions have distinctive strengths.
"We heard the proposals from our fellow governors today. They included ideas for cooperation among provinces, regencies and cities because each region has particular strengths that can complement one another," Tito said following the coordination meeting of Sumatra's governors as part of the IMT-GT activities at the JW Marriott Hotel in Medan on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Sumatra Governors Pool Development Ideas
The meeting was not limited to a mere exchange of ideas. Following the coordination session, the governors signed a joint agreement on development planning, synergies and cooperation among regions. The agreement represents an initial step toward strengthening coordination in regional development across Sumatra.
The central government welcomed the agreement resulting from the forum. Tito said the central government was open to various development ideas that could help improve connectivity and strengthen the region's competitiveness.
One of the ideas discussed was the development of an integrated development model for Sumatra. The concept could cover a range of strategic areas, from connectivity and the economy to food security and energy supply.
"There is an idea to develop some kind of integrated development concept for a special region or for the
Sumatra region. There is no problem with that. It is about a major overall concept covering connectivity, economic development, as well as areas such as food and energy. The central government certainly supports positive concepts that complement one another and work together within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," Tito said.
In Tito's view, the idea of integrated development is in line with the need to strengthen connections among regions across Sumatra. The central government can support concepts that create synergies and benefit both individual regions and national interests.
INTERPROVINCIAL COOPERATION: Minister of Home Affairs
Tito Karnavian emphasizes the importance of cooperation among provinces, as each region has its own strengths that can complement one another in advancing the development of
Sumatra. (PHOTO: YT Hariono)
Sumatra Holds Enormous Economic Potential
Tito considers
Sumatra a region with significant potential to become a major engine of national economic growth. This potential stems not only from its abundance of natural resources, but also from its population and the quality of its human resources distributed across the island's provinces.
He noted that around 22 percent of Indonesia's population lives on Sumatra. Its large population represents a strength in itself, as it can support economic activity, trade, industry and the development of various productive sectors across the region.
In addition to its demographic potential,
Sumatra's geographical position offers a strategic advantage. The island lies along important trade routes between the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca. This position provides
Sumatra with significant opportunities to expand its trade links with various parts of the world.
Tito also highlighted the island groups off Sumatra's western coast, which he said could support the development of an effective port network. If developed optimally, ports in the area could become important hubs connecting Sumatra with various countries in Asia, Europe and Africa.
This potential requires coordinated development planning so that individual regions do not operate independently of one another. Regional cooperation can serve as a means of linking the respective strengths of the provinces and, in turn, creating greater economic strength for the island as a whole.
Improved connectivity could also provide broader access to production centers, industrial areas, ports, as well as national and international markets. At the same time, stronger cooperation in food and energy could enhance the region's resilience and contribute to meeting national needs.
SUMATRA'S STRATEGIC LOCATION: Minister of Home Affairs
Tito Karnavian explains that
Sumatra's strategic position along the trade routes of the Indian Ocean and Strait of Malacca offers significant potential to strengthen trade connectivity with Asia, Europe and Africa. (PHOTO: YT Hariono)
Regional Cooperation to Strengthen the National Economy
Tito emphasized that the development of
Sumatra should not be aimed solely at improving the welfare of people on the island. Optimizing
Sumatra's potential could also have far-reaching implications for Indonesia's overall economic growth.
Therefore, the central government is encouraging the governors to turn the ideas emerging from their meeting into concrete measures. Cooperation among regions should focus on interconnected programs that generate shared benefits rather than remaining merely at the administrative level.
The forum of
Sumatra's governors initiated by
Bobby Nasution as part of the
IMT-GT activities provides a platform for developing a shared perspective. The meeting also highlights the importance of dialogue among regional governments in planning regional development, where structures and potential are closely interconnected.
Tito hopes Sumatra's potential can be optimized through strong synergy between the central and regional governments. With stronger connectivity and targeted cooperation among regions, Sumatra has the opportunity to play an even greater role in Indonesia's economy in the future.
"If this potential can be utilized and maximized,
Sumatra will not only benefit itself, but will also drive the growth of its regions and contribute to the national economy," Tito said in closing.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala