Friday, 11 September 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The hosting of the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) in Medan has received widespread recognition from various circles across North Sumatra. The subregional economic cooperation forum is seen as an important moment to revive North Sumatra's strategic economic diplomacy, which in recent years has, according to various observers, lacked the dynamism it once demonstrated.
The meeting of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand also underscores North Sumatra's position as one of the strategically important regions for economic cooperation in the region. Beyond strengthening relations among the three countries, the meeting is expected to open new opportunities for investment, trade, connectivity, and development cooperation that can directly benefit the people.Community figure and experienced former senior North Sumatra government official RE Nainggolan praised North Sumatra Governor Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, whose role he considers crucial in bringing the international agenda back to North Sumatra.
"We should give our highest appreciation to Governor Bobby Nasution. His central role, commitment, and international vision have convinced neighboring countries that this major event could be successfully held in Medan," RE Nainggolan said in Medan on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.According to RE Nainggolan, North Sumatra's success in hosting the IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting is not merely about organizing an international event. More importantly, the forum demonstrates the regional government's ability to build communication and create opportunities for renewed cooperation with neighboring countries.
RE Nainggolan, who served as Secretary of the North Sumatra Provincial Government from 2008 to 2010, said the IMT-GT forum had lost public attention in North Sumatra in recent years. He described this as unfortunate, given North Sumatra's highly strategic geographical and economic position within the IMT-GT area.
"Honestly, we have to acknowledge that this event had practically disappeared from public attention in our region for quite some time. Yet North Sumatra has an exceptionally strategic geopolitical and geoeconomic position within this growth triangle. Under Mr. Bobby's leadership, the importance of this regional cooperation has been revived – or, as we might say today, brought back into the spotlight," added RE Nainggolan, who also served as Regent of North Tapanuli and Head of the North Sumatra Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda).He views the hosting of the 32nd IMT-GT meeting in Medan as an opportunity to once again strengthen North Sumatra's role in regional economic cooperation. The province's strategic position must be utilized by the regional government to build a broader economic network, particularly amid growing competition and the increasingly dynamic development of the regional economy.
RE Nainggolan believes North Sumatra has a solid foundation to assume this role. Its geographical proximity to Malaysia and Thailand, existing resource potential, and Medan's position as a center of economic activity in western Indonesia are among the province's strengths. These advantages, he said, can be further developed by the regional government through cooperation that crosses administrative and national borders.In his view, the significance of IMT-GT should not be limited to ceremonies and meetings among government representatives. Agreements emerging from the forum must be translated by the government into concrete programs that contribute to strengthening the regional economy.
"As someone who spent many years in the bureaucracy, I see a dynamic, tactical, and responsive working rhythm. The swift action taken since his first day in office has brought about many fundamental changes. Cross-sectoral communication and strong implementation capacity on the ground are the keys to why North Sumatra is once again receiving greater attention at the regional level," he said.
According to RE Nainggolan, the ability to establish cross-sectoral communication is a decisive factor in leading a regional government. An international agenda such as the IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting requires coordination involving not only the provincial government, but also district and municipal governments, the central government, the business sector, and other stakeholders.For that reason, he considers a leadership style that combines swift action with strong coordination to be an important asset for North Sumatra in improving its competitiveness. At the same time, the regional government must maintain this momentum so that the relationships and cooperation generated through the IMT-GT forum can continue to be developed after the meeting concludes.
RE Nainggolan also highlighted Bobby Nasution's ability to promote cooperation among regions. He considers this approach particularly relevant given the development challenges facing North Sumatra, which covers a vast area with highly diverse regional characteristics.
RE Nainggolan linked Bobby Nasution's focus on interregional cooperation to his doctoral dissertation at the University of North Sumatra (Universitas Sumatera Utara), which also addresses the issue of cooperation among regions. In his view, this approach carries significant importance for the development of North Sumatra.
"On various occasions, I have always emphasized that there can be no successful development process without cooperation among regions, because many problems can only be resolved through good cooperation and coordination. Or, to use the slogan of the Governor of North Sumatra: collaboration," he said.He stressed that cooperation must not merely become a slogan in government administration. The concept must be transformed into a concrete working approach, as many development issues are interconnected and individual regions influence one another.
RE Nainggolan then gave a simple example to illustrate the importance of coordinated cooperation among regions. He referred to traditional dance, particularly the Manortor tradition, in which all participants must move in the same rhythm to create a harmonious performance."This is especially true in development efforts and efforts to improve public services," he said.
For RE Nainggolan, this spirit of cooperation is also relevant to collaboration within the IMT-GT forum. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand may have different interests, but through coordination and cooperation they can identify common ground to create stronger economic growth across the region.In the context of North Sumatra, cooperation among regions can also strengthen economic linkages between districts and cities. Each region has different potential that can complement one another, ranging from agriculture and plantations to tourism, trade, industry, and the services sector.
RE Nainggolan hopes the momentum generated by hosting the 32nd IMT-GT meeting will not end once the delegates leave Medan. He urged the government to immediately follow up on the various economic agreements and opportunities emerging from the forum so that their benefits can genuinely reach the public.At the same time, he expressed hope for stronger cooperation among the 10 governors of the island of Sumatra. Cooperation among provinces is an important component in strengthening Sumatra's overall development while improving the region's bargaining position in regional economic cooperation.
RE Nainggolan emphasized that implementation of the agreements reached after the forum must receive the highest level of attention. The regional government must ensure that every cooperation opportunity is supported by clear follow-up measures, whether through investment, infrastructure development, increased trade, or other programs capable of creating jobs and stimulating the regional economy.In this way, the hosting of the 32nd IMT-GT meeting in Medan will not merely be remembered as part of North Sumatra's regional economic diplomacy, but will also serve as a starting point for once again strengthening the province's position as one of the important hubs of regional economic growth.
He hopes all stakeholders can maintain this momentum through continuous cooperation. With regional governments, the business community, society, and other stakeholders working together, opportunities emerging from the IMT-GT forum can be quickly translated into development programs that improve public welfare and accelerate infrastructure development across North Sumatra. (IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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