Warta Ekonomi, Jakarta - Governor of West Java Dedi Mulyadi has his own reasons for continuously driving infrastructure development across various regions. For Dedi, projects involving roads, connectivity, and supporting facilities are not merely physical construction, but a strategy to create job opportunities and stimulate the local economy.

 

Dedi explained the relationship between infrastructure development and the issue of unemployment in West Java. He acknowledged that a paradox remains when the quality of infrastructure improves, yet the unemployment rate does not automatically drop significantly.

 

"Many have pointed out that infrastructure development here is much better than before. However, the unemployment rate remains high," said Dedi, as quoted on Thursday (Aug 13, 2026).

 

According to him, this issue cannot be adequately addressed solely through programs that directly target job seekers. Infrastructure development can also serve as an engine that generates economic activity from the moment a project begins until the facility is completed and utilized.

 

Dedi believes that the impact of development does not stop with the workers visible at project sites. When an infrastructure project is underway, various professions gain economic opportunities.

 

From material transport drivers, project laborers, tradesmen, and architects to planners, everyone is involved in the development chain.

 

"This also creates economic circulation. There are drivers, laborers, tradesmen, architects, planners, and the like. Secondly, by building infrastructure, investment becomes easier to attract," Dedi said.

 

It is this ripple effect that he believes must be recognized when the government builds infrastructure. Projects do not merely spend budgets to produce roads or buildings; they also create demand for labor, services, transportation, materials, and other supporting needs.

 

As these activities pick up, communities surrounding the construction areas also stand to gain economic benefits.

 

Through this perspective, infrastructure development is positioned as an instrument to address employment challenges. The government is not just building facilities, but also creating an economic ecosystem that enables more people to earn an income.

 

Dedi also linked infrastructure development to a broader goal: attracting investment to West Java.

 

In his view, investors look beyond market potential or land availability when deciding to set up business operations. Basic infrastructure is a key consideration because it directly impacts company operations.

 

Road access, electricity, telecommunications networks, gas pipelines, and clean water supplies must be adequate for investment to flow in and flourish.

 

"Investment will come when toll roads are good, electricity is connected, telecommunications networks are connected, gas pipeline networks are connected, and clean water networks are connected. This will spur investment. And with investment, people will get jobs," Dedi explained.

 

He noted that good infrastructure facilitates mobility and distribution, which in turn enhances the region's appeal to investors. When investment comes in, companies require labor, thereby opening up employment opportunities.

 

This means that infrastructure development is expected to yield more than just immediate benefits like better roads or shorter travel times. There is a follow-up target: the growth of economic activity and job creation.

 

He does not want infrastructure projects to be viewed solely by their final output. A completed road, for example, certainly offers connectivity benefits. However, the process leading up to its completion involves substantial labor and economic activity.

 

Even after completion, improved infrastructure creates a more attractive environment for the business world. Goods distribution becomes easier, worker mobility increases, and inter-regional connectivity expands.

 

[Source]