The Executive Director of the APEKSI, Alwis Rustam, emphasized that city governments have become a crucial part of the national investment and economic growth engine. In an interview with Nusantara TV’s Regional Insight segment on July 21, 2026, Alwis stated that the current regional challenge is not simply attracting as much investment as possible, but rather building a city ecosystem that provides certainty and confidence for investors. He stated that each city has its own “economic DNA” that needs to be mapped and developed according to its strengths.
Alwis emphasized that investment certainty is not solely determined by the speed of permitting, incentives, or infrastructure availability. Investors also consider the ecosystem as a whole, from regulatory consistency, energy availability and connectivity, to the quality of education, health, the environment, and the comfort of life for workers and their families. Therefore, city development needs to be holistic and no longer fragmented or sectoral. “The challenge for all cities now is not to attract as much investment as possible. The challenge is how cities create certainty,” Alwis said.
APEKSI encourages every city in Indonesia to identify and strengthen its economic strengths, whether as a city of industry, services, logistics, education, the creative economy, or a center for technology and innovation. Institutional strengthening, bureaucratic professionalism, consistent regional leadership, and the use of AI and digitalization are crucial for building governance that supports investment. According to Alwis, Indonesia cannot rely solely on one or a few cities to drive national economic growth. “All cities must move up a level,” he stressed.