Editor’s Note
- Bobby Nasution: Favorable investment climate in North Sumatra
- North Sumatra’s economy grows by 4.55 percent
- Poverty in North Sumatra shows a downward trend
- Medium-term inflation control
- Supporting the advancement of SMEs
Bobby Nasution: Favorable investment climate in North Sumatra
Governor Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution of North Sumatra emphasized that efforts will be made by 2025 to strengthen the economic ecosystem by supporting the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in North Sumatra and creating a favorable and progressive investment climate.
This is evident from the development targets for the third quarter of 2025, which show very good results, characterized by successful poverty reduction, a decrease in the open unemployment rate (TPT), an improvement in the Gini coefficient, and a gross regional product per capita that significantly exceeds the target.
North Sumatra’s economy grows by 4.55 percent
The head of the North Sumatra Economic Bureau, Poppy Marulita Hutagalung, stated that, based on data from the North Sumatra Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the North Sumatra economy grew by 4.55% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025.
This growth reflects the continued stable economic activity in the region. North Sumatra’s gross regional product (GRDP) contributed the largest share of Sumatra’s GDP in the third quarter of 2025, at 23.58%.
“The open unemployment rate (TPT) in North Sumatra was 5.32% in the third quarter of 2025, down from 5.6% in 2024,” Poppy reported in Medan on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
Poverty in North Sumatra shows a downward trend
The poverty rate in North Sumatra also showed a downward trend, reaching 7.36% in March 2025, below the target range of 7.46-6.96% for 2025. The Gini coefficient reached 0.295 points in March 2025, below the target range of 0.305-0.303 points.
This figure decreased by 0.011 points compared to the Gini coefficient in September 2024 and also by 0.002 points compared to the Gini coefficient in March 2024.
North Sumatra also managed to control inflation in 2025, lowering it from 5.32% in September (year-on-year) to 3.96% in November 2025, while simultaneously strengthening the price stability of basic necessities.
Medium-Term Inflation Control
Poppy explained that the North Sumatra provincial government, to control inflation, has established a medium-term inflation control policy, as outlined in Decree No. 188.44/839/KPTS/2025 of the Governor of North Sumatra concerning the Roadmap for Inflation Control in the Province of North Sumatra for the period 2025-2027.
This policy promotes the 4K strategy for inflation control: affordability of prices, availability of supply, smooth distribution, and effective communication.
Throughout 2025, Governor Bobby Nasution also created a favorable investment climate in North Sumatra, with a 53.5 percent increase in investments and a 25 percent increase in investment value.
The provincial government of North Sumatra remains committed to increasing investment and creating broader business and employment opportunities for the community.
This initiative embodies the hope of the people of North Sumatra for inclusive, sustainable economic development that strengthens regional competitiveness.
Supporting the Growth of SMEs
Furthermore, Governor Bobby Nasution strengthened the economic ecosystem by supporting the growth of SMEs.
This is evident from the 2025 results, which show that out of 6,100 Red-White Village/Sub-District Cooperatives (KDMP/KKMP), 328 proposed locations have been identified, of which 4,613 cooperatives (75.62%) are registered in the Red-White Village/Sub-District Cooperative Management Information System (SIMKOPDES). ***rel
