ERIA Co-Hosts Second Policy Seminar on Sustainable Housing and Urban Development in Indonesia

Jakarta, 26 January 2026: ERIA co-hosted the Second Policy Seminar on Sustainable Housing, Buildings, and Cities at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, on 26 January 2026. The seminar was co-organised with Indonesia's Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Japan International Association for the Industry of Urban Development, Building, and Housing (JUBH), and the Building Center of Japan (BCJ).

Building on last year's dialogue, the seminar focused on policy and regulatory approaches to advancing sustainable urban development in Indonesia, drawing insights from government institutions, state-owned enterprises, and international partners.

Opening and Keynote Remarks

The seminar opened with remarks from Indonesian government representatives, including Mr Fahri Hamzah, Vice Minister of PKP, and Mr Kelik Indrijanto, Head of the Public Housing and Settlement Department of the Jakarta Provincial Government. They highlighted ongoing national and subnational efforts to promote sustainable urban development and underscored the timeliness of the seminar's agenda.

Mr Tetsuya Watanabe, President of ERIA, emphasised that sustainable cities are a critical long-term investment for Indonesia and the wider region, particularly in addressing rapid urbanisation, climate risks, and structural social and economic challenges.

Ms Lamia Kamal-Choui, Director of the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions, and Cities, highlighted the strategic importance of Indonesia's accession process to the OECD. Mr Massimo Gelosso Grosso, Head of the OECD Jakarta Office, reaffirmed OECD's commitment to supporting Indonesia's urban development agenda. Similar messages of support were delivered by representatives from JUBH, BCJ, and the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia.

Two keynote presentations set the stage for the panel discussions. Mr Itsuhiro Miura, Deputy Director-General for Urban and Housing Affairs at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and Dr Norihisa Shima, Associate Professor at Toyo University, shared perspectives on policy innovations and challenges, drawing lessons from Japan while reflecting on Indonesia's urban context.

Panel Discussion I: Embedding Sustainability in Housing and Building Policies

Moderated by Dr Norihisa Shima, the first panel explored how sustainability can be integrated into housing and building policies at both national and subnational levels.

• Mr Takahiro Yamada, Senior Analyst at OECD, presented OECD findings and identified energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and institutional capacity as key priorities for improving urban sustainability in Indonesia.
• Mr Abdul Malik Sadat Idris, Deputy for Infrastructure at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), discussed policy coordination efforts to promote green development, improve inadequate housing, and address Indonesia's housing backlog.
• Mr Andri Hari Rochayanto, Director for Urban Housing Land Provision, Licensing, and Occupancy at the Ministry of PKP, outlined the respective roles of national and local governments, including subsidy mechanisms supporting housing policy implementation.
• Mr Rahensyah Azhar Pratama, Planner at the Surabaya City Office of Public Housing, Settlement Areas, and Land Affairs (DPRKPP), highlighted Surabaya's initiatives to promote sustainable housing and building practices.

Panel Discussion II: Supporting Housing Policy amid Urban Challenges

Moderated by Dr Fauziah Zen, Senior Economist at ERIA, the second panel examined strategies to support housing policy in the face of growing urban pressures.

• Ms Marie Hanagata, Policy Analyst at OECD, identified priorities for building sustainable cities in Indonesia, including improved urban land use, transit-oriented development (TOD), and climate-resilient spatial planning.
• Ms Nuki Harniati, Director of Spatial Planning at the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN), outlined spatial planning policies at national and subnational levels and highlighted emerging policy trends.
• Mr Nixon Sitorus, Director of Risk Management and Legal at Perumnas, discussed approaches to housing development and financing, emphasising the need for strong cross-ministry and inter-agency coordination.
• Ms Sagita Devi, Head of TOD Planning and Development at PT MRT Jakarta, described the organisation's role beyond transport provision, supporting improved connectivity and compact urban growth.

Closing Remarks

In his closing remarks, Vice Minister Fahri Hamzah expressed appreciation to all speakers and participants, noting the relevance of the discussions in addressing Indonesia's persistent housing and urban development challenges. He underscored that achieving sustainable cities will require close collaboration amongst government institutions, the private sector, academia, and development partners.