Bappenas pushes Kepri to scale key sectors while expanding social support
Kepulauan Riau is entering a new phase of development planning with a clear message from the central government: strong growth is not enough unless the province fully unlocks its tourism and fisheries potential while improving social outcomes.
Kepri Outperforms National Growth
At the 2026 Musrenbang for the 2027 Regional Development Work Plan, the Ministry of National Development Planning urged Kepulauan Riau to optimize its leading sectors, especially tourism and fisheries, to strengthen long term economic growth. Staf Ahli Kementerian PPN/Bappenas Tri Dewi Virgiyanti said Kepri’s economy grew 6.94 percent in 2025, well above the national average of 5.11 percent.
Even with that strong performance, Tri Dewi stressed that Kepri’s potential remains underused. She highlighted tourism, fisheries, and the digital economy as sectors that still have room to expand and help the province move closer to an 8 percent growth target. Her message was clear: the province is doing well, but it can do much better with sharper execution and stronger sector focus.
Musrenbang Sets 2027 Priorities
The Musrenbang, held at Aula Wan Seri Beni in Dompak on April 6, 2026, was designed to align national and regional priorities and absorb stakeholder input for the 2027 RKPD. Governor Ansar Ahmad emphasized that development planning must be integrated, sustainable, and directly responsive to public needs, especially during a period of global uncertainty.
Ansar outlined several social and economic priorities for 2027. In education, the province plans to expand scholarships for high achieving and low income students, strengthen vocational education, and improve teacher welfare. In health, the government will continue support for medical scholarships, regional health insurance, and hospital facility upgrades.
Social Progress and Local Economic Support
Kepri also reported notable social progress. The province said stunting prevalence had fallen to 15 percent, while national health insurance coverage reached 98.43 percent, helping Kepri secure a UHC Pratama recognition. These indicators were presented as evidence that social policy and economic planning are moving in the same direction.
On the economic side, Ansar said the province will continue zero margin interest subsidies, strengthen support for UMKM, and provide assistance for farmers and fishers. Infrastructure remains a major focus too, with plans to improve interisland connectivity, expand village electrification through the Kepri Terang program, increase clean water access, and address settlement conditions.
Fiscal Capacity and National Alignment
In his virtual remarks, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto praised Kepri’s performance, citing 2025 growth of 7.89 percent and inflation at 3.54 percent. He also noted a drop in open unemployment from 7.07 percent in 2020 to 4.85 percent in 2025, and highlighted Kepri’s Human Development Index of 80.53 as one of the highest in Indonesia.
Bima added that Kepri’s fiscal capacity is relatively strong, with locally generated revenue exceeding central government transfers. However, he warned that the province still needs to optimize spending realization to ensure growth is distributed more evenly. He also pointed to global risks, including geopolitical tensions and energy price volatility, that could affect regional stability.
Kepri’s 2027 development roadmap reflects a practical balance between growth acceleration and social resilience. The province is being encouraged to sharpen its focus on tourism and fisheries while maintaining momentum in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. If these priorities are implemented effectively, Kepri can strengthen its role as a high growth gateway in western Indonesia and deepen economic linkages across the region, including with Singapore, where tourism, trade, and maritime cooperation remain closely tied to Kepri’s long term trajectory.
Sources: Pres Media (2026) , Batamnews (2026)
Keywords: Kepri Economic Growth, Tri Dewi Virgiyanti, Ansar Ahmad, RKPD 2027, Tourism Sector, Fisheries Sector
