The Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment and the University of Indonesia held a national seminar to discuss challenges in community empowerment amid the middle-income trap.
The seminar titled “Challenges of Community Empowerment in Facing the Middle-Income Trap in Indonesia” took place at the UI Campus Assembly Hall in Depok on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Around 300 participants from 44 ministries, agencies, and universities attended to formulate policy recommendations.
UI Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Hamdi Muluk highlighted the university’s role in supporting government policy formulation. Deputy for Coordination of Village Community Empowerment, Disadvantaged Regions, and Special Regions Abdul Haris presented data showing Indonesia’s economic growth at 5.61 percent in the first quarter.
Haris also noted that real wages of Indonesian workers fell by an average of 1.1 percent per year between 2018 and 2024. He pointed to the gap between research and policy as well as the need for structural investment.
The forum aligns with Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 and Law Number 59 of 2024 on the RPJPN 2025–2045. Participants hope the discussions will foster cross-sector coordination toward Indonesia Emas 2045.
