JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, emphasized that collaboration is the key solution to accelerating the development of disadvantaged regions in Indonesia.

Minister Yandri made the remarks while attending the Coordination Meeting for the Acceleration of Development in Disadvantaged Regions at the Ministry's Operational Room on Wednesday (Feb 25, 2026).

"Eighty years after Indonesia's independence, some of our brothers and sisters still live in areas classified as disadvantaged. We must erase this 'disadvantaged' status as quickly as possible. How? Through collaboration," said Minister Yandri.

Minister Yandri highlighted the conditions in several regions that remain underdeveloped. He noted that some areas still lack electricity and internet signals, while facing significant limitations in infrastructure and educational facilities.

"Educational facilities are still very limited. To reach a school, students often have to walk an average of 2 kilometers. Furthermore, commercial centers are scarce; people have to travel an average of 9 kilometers just to reach a market for trade and other needs," Minister Yandri explained.

Therefore, he hopes that the Coordination Meeting will produce a set of recommendations to expedite development and strengthen the unity of various stakeholders in alleviating regional disparities.

Minister Yandri also welcomed a proposal from the Coordinator of Heads of Disadvantaged Regions, who is also the Regent of North Nias, Amizaro, to facilitate an audience with President Prabowo Subianto.

"I think their request is extraordinary, and we will communicate this so they can meet directly with the President," Minister Yandri added.

He further stated that such an audience would allow leaders from disadvantaged regions to express the specific conditions and needs of their respective areas directly to the President.

Previously, the Director General for the Acceleration of Development in Disadvantaged Regions (PPDT), Samsul Widodo, stated that multi-stakeholder support—from the government to the private sector—is required to realize rapid development in the country's underdeveloped areas.

"We would like to remind everyone that according to the RPJM (National Medium-Term Development Plan), there are still 30 disadvantaged regions requiring support, not only from ministries and agencies but also from philanthropic organizations and the private sector," Samsul said.

He further detailed that these 30 regions are spread across several provinces. These include North Sumatra (North Nias Regency) and East Nusa Tenggara (Central Sumba, Southwest Sumba, and Sabu Raijua Regencies).

"The remaining areas are located in the Papua region, including West Papua, Southwest Papua, South Papua, Highland Papua, and Central Papua," Samsul noted.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Ahmad Wiyagus; Deputy for Regional Development at Bappenas, Medrilzam; Head of the Infrastructure Development Agency at the Ministry of Public Works, Bob Arthur Lombogia; Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution; representatives from the Ministry of Finance; and regents from various disadvantaged regions.

Accompanying Minister Yandri were the Deputy Minister of Villages, Ahmad Riza Patria; Secretary-General Taufik Madjid; and other high-ranking officials within the Ministry of Villages and PDT.

Photo: Angga/Kemendes PDT 
Text: Firman/Kemendes PDT