The establishment of Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) reinforces the belief that national development will be more evenly distributed across Indonesia. Muhaimin, the Secretary of Balikpapan, emphasized this during the opening of the 17th National Working Meeting of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) in Balikpapan on Saturday, 1 June 2024. "I urge the younger generation to seize this momentum. The key is how much they care about their regions," stated Muhaimin. He also highlighted the challenges posed by an increasingly uncertain geopolitical climate and the tangible impacts of climate change, stressing the need for youth involvement. The first agenda of APEKSI is the Youth City Changers (YCC) program, involving young participants from 40 cities across Indonesia.
Alwis Rustam, APEKSI’s Executive Director, expressed hope that this event would capture the ideas and aspirations of the youth for their respective city governments. "It's about how young people can get closer to their city governments and accelerate urban development. You are the future leaders of your cities," he said. Rustam praised the exceptional and critical discussions that took place during the idea exchange sessions. "It was extraordinary, akin to a presidential debate," he remarked. The event featured a welcome dinner followed by a talk show with Bima Arya, who motivated the YCC 2024 participants and attendees of the East Kalimantan Provincial Youth Jamboree. Bima Arya, the former APEKSI Chairman (2021-2023), advised the youth to be passionate, competent, and of strong character, with open and progressive mindsets. "Don't waste opportunities. Life is short, make it meaningful, and don't be enslaved by materialism. Your sustenance will follow, God willing," he advised. He further encouraged the youth to capitalize on opportunities, emphasizing that the right moment is unpredictable. "Don’t waste the momentum. Embrace it," he concluded.
