Youth Entrepreneurship FGD in Toba Regency

BPS Toba Regency participated in the Cross-Sectoral Forum Group Discussion (FGD) for Assistance in the Independent Assessment of Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development in Toba Regency. The activity was held in a hybrid manner. Regional Apparatus (PD) discussed directly in the Mini Meeting Room of the Regent's Office and virtually via zoom meeting with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 08.30-14.00 WIB. This activity was attended by the Assistant for Economy and Development of the Toba Regency Regional Secretariat, related Regional Apparatus, the Toba Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and Representatives of Young Entrepreneurs. The BPS Toba team was attended by Sabar Alberto Harianja, Head of BPS Toba, Yohana Madame Hutahaean, First Expert Statistician and Berliana Lolita Siahaan, STIS Graduate Orientation. The discussion in this FGD was to identify the potential and challenges of developing a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem, increase synergy and collaboration, collect data, input, and ideas from policy makers, and develop a comprehensive cross-sectoral strategy. The FGD was opened directly by the Deputy of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum, who said that in 2023, there will be 64.16 million young people in Indonesia. Based on the results of the August 2023 Sakernas, at the national level the Youth Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) was 13.41 percent. In addition, there are 25.80 percent of young people who have the status of Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET). For this reason, Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum emphasized the importance of optimizing youth development to increase youth capacity by building an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The goal is to strengthen the quality, empowerment, and positive potential of young people. In the discussion session on the independent assessment, the Head of the Economy and Natural Resources Division of Bappelitbangda, Lasma Simatupang, said that the Toba Regency Government does not yet have regulations related to youth entrepreneurship, but indirectly the regulation is a derivative of the 2021-2026 RPJMD regarding employment. However, the Assistant for Economy and Development of the Regional Secretariat of Toba Regency, Jonni Lubis, stated that support for the youth of Toba Regency has been carried out through various trainings to increase youth capacity. In the future, it is also hoped that there will be a youth forum in Toba Regency. The Head of BPS Toba Regency, Sabar Alberto Harianja in this session said that around 25 percent of the population of Toba Regency are young people. The current economic growth target as conveyed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, is 8 percent in the next five years. Currently, Indonesia's national economic growth in the third quarter of 2024 is 4.95% (yoy). Thus, the role of young people is very important to support the government in achieving this target. Sabar Alberto Harianja also confirmed that the TPT was 1.30 and the poverty rate was 8.04 in Toba Regency in 2023.

The series of events went well and all participants were actively discussing. The event was closed with the delivery of the main notes and Conclusions of the FGD. The activity was also filled with photo documentation with all FGD participants, both those who participated virtually and offline. HORAS.

By YMH