Malang, 6 November 2025 — Locally Generated Revenue (PAD) is often seen simply as a series of numbers in reports on targets and budget realization. However, behind these numbers lies a story about the capacity, innovation, and perseverance of city governments in managing resources independently and sustainably.
The Malang City Government hosted the APEKSI’s Regional Original Revenue Fiscal Discussion (Rembug PAD Kota Kita: Bukan Sekadar Angka), which provided a platform for shared learning about the challenges and best practices in PAD management at the city level.
Through this event, various APEKSI member city governments shared experiences and strategies in strengthening regional fiscal independence—from digital innovation, institutional reform, optimizing regional assets, to strengthening the role of Regionally-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) as the driving force behind PAD. The event was also supported by PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) and PT Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia (PII), which also shared insights into partnerships.
The “Rembug Fiscal Kota Kita” (Our City Fiscal Discussion) activity went beyond sharing in a discussion forum; participants were also invited to immerse themselves in real-world practices through visits and observations to several strategic locations in Malang. These included the Bapenda Command Center, which serves as the digital control center for regional tax services; the Gajayana area and the Mbois Gallery, which exemplify city asset management; and the Malang Creative Center (MCC), which functions as a collaborative ecosystem for creative economy actors. This visit demonstrated how intersectoral collaboration can deliver sustainable fiscal innovation while also promoting Malang as one of 58 cities included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) 2025 and the first city in East Java to achieve international recognition in the field of media arts.
Through the “Rembug Fiscal “PAD Kota Kita” (Our City Regional Revenue), APEKSI (Indonesian Association of Special Regions of Indonesia) encourages city governments to not only pursue revenue targets but also build capacity and creativity in managing regional resources. “This Rembug is not just a forum, but a platform to emphasize that behind every PAD figure lies a story of a city’s struggle to be independent, adaptive, and empowered.”
With a spirit of collaboration, APEKSI continues to strengthen the role of cities as drivers of national development. Through collaborative learning, fiscal innovation, and inter-city networking, the Fiscal Discussion in Malang is a concrete step towards a more independent and competitive Indonesia at the city level.
The Mayor of Malang hosted the participants of the Our City Fiscal Discussion at Malang City Hall with a variety of Malang specialties and entertainment.
Thank you to the Mayor of Malang and the Malang City Government for hosting these activities, which ensured the smooth and successful running of the event.