Jakarta, July 4, 2023 – Following the success of the inaugural Public Lecture titled “Prosperity for All: Efforts in Rural Development in West Java for Welfare Equality” at Sampoerna University last April and the Public Lecture “New Approaches to Rural Modernization” at the School of Government and Public Policy (SGPP) in May, Blue Ocean Strategy Fellowship (BOSF) organized the BOSF Business Roundtable on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Held at The Emerald Room, Fairmont Jakarta, this exclusive meeting was attended by executives and/or management of multinational corporations (MNCs), Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as business associations with experience in rural economic development in Indonesia.
In the first semester of 2023, BOSF appointed Moch. Ridwan Kamil, the Governor of West Java Province, as a Distinguished Fellow from February to June 2023. In this BOSF Business Roundtable meeting, participants shared their experiences and challenges faced by their respective organizations in conducting business operations and involving rural areas in Indonesia, as well as the impact and contributions to rural economic development. On this occasion, Ridwan Kamil shared the achievements of West Java Province in advancing 977 underdeveloped and highly underdeveloped villages within a span of four years. Today, there are no more underdeveloped or highly underdeveloped villages in West Java Province, which was achieved through the GERBANG DESA (Village Development Movement) program to achieve ‘zeroing underdeveloped village.’ “We must build this country with a concept of justice, pro-digital, and the ability to adapt to disruptions. In my opinion, the future is not always in the city. On the contrary, building villages and their economies is part of building the future,” said Ridwan Kamil.
Based on the successful case study of West Java Provincial Government’s rural transformation, three key pillars emerged: digital transformation, economic and social resilience, and infrastructure development. Through digital transformation, the West Java Provincial Government has successfully increased access to information and communication technology, which aids in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of local governance and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas. Secondly, creating job opportunities is also a pillar of rural transformation to promote social cohesion, economic and social resilience rooted in the community. Lastly, investment in infrastructure development, including roads, bridges, and other public facilities, is crucial to enhance access to essential services and connect rural areas with cities.
Some of the organizations attending the BOSF Business Roundtable included Himpunan Pengusaha NU (HPN), National CSR Forum, GoTo, Bank of America, Castle Asia, eFishery, Pepsico, Lazada, Evermos, and PT Medco Energi Internasional. The participants also discussed new ways for the government and private sector to collaborate more effectively in order to achieve positive outcomes and add value to rural areas throughout Indonesia. From the discussions between Distinguished Fellow BOSF Moch. Ridwan Kamil and corporate leaders and associations, it can be concluded that synergy between the government and private sector is necessary to take responsibility for village development, driving change, and bringing about positive impacts collectively.
BOSF is a thought leadership program aimed at generating effective innovative approaches to address issues or challenges in the public and private sectors in Indonesia. Organized in collaboration with Sampoerna University (SU), School of Government and Public Policy (SGPP) Indonesia, and Blue Ocean Global Network, BOSF runs this fellowship program for five months to share innovations and problem-solving focused on development in Indonesia, including rural development.
BOSF hopes that the presence of this program can support the government in formulating relevant public policies and addressing current challenges to stimulate national economic growth, particularly through rural development.
This Business Roundtable signifies the completion of Ridwan Kamil’s fellowship series with BOSF. Next, BOSF will appoint a new Distinguished Fellow from among public officials to discuss different development issues, which will undoubtedly be part of the broader vision to optimize Public-Private Partnership (PPP) collaborations in Indonesia.