ADB reaffirms development partnership with West Java, Indonesia

An official meeting held between senior officials of Indonesia's West Java Province and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reaffirmed the ADB's long-term commitment to assist development in the province, a statement released by the bank said on Wednesday. West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan said at the meeting that ADB has played an important role in multi-stakeholders efforts in developing the province. "Today's meeting strengthens West Java's close working relations with ADB as our strategic global partner," he said, adding that valuable knowledge and experience were welcomed to help the province carry out its development. The governor said that the province is now focusing its development activities on more efficient resources allocation and effective collaboration. During the meeting, the governor exchanged information on current development process and challenges in the province with ADB Indonesia Country Director Jon D. Lindborg. West Java is the most populous province in Indonesia, and has robust investment activities and rising inter-regional trade, that contribute significantly to the province's growth. It also has strong local sources of revenue which stood at about 77 percent of its revenue in 2012, or much higher than the national average of 40 percent. Challenges facing the province include high unemployment rate and under-developed infrastructure. If left unaddressed, these could hinder the province's future economic growth. "West Java is a good example to illustrate the crucial role of regional government in development efforts. ADB always believes Indonesia's current decentralized governance structure provides opportunities to ensure that development initiatives are in line with specific regional priorities. Thus, ADB is determined to continue assisting West Java provincial government in capitalizing on its economic advantages to benefit everyone in the province," Jon D. Lindborg said in the statement. The Manila-based development bank was dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific. It was founded in 1966, joined by 67 member countries, including Indonesia. As of last year it has disbursed 21.6 billion U.S. dollars of assistance.