Emerging Cities

Since the policy of decentralisation was enacted in 2011, the country’s central government has ceded increasing amounts of control, both budgetary and political, to its provinces. However, the island of Java and the country’s metropolitan capital, Jakarta, remain the main source of Indonesia’s economic power. As a result, efforts are being made to equalise and support growth and investment in the country’s regions and cities. As the decentralisation process has unfolded, several “second cities” have shown a particular ability to thrive in this autonomous system, namely, Surabaya, Bandung and Medan.

This chapter contains an interview with M Ridwan Kamil, Mayor, Bandung.