I Wayan Koster and Nyoman Giri Prasta secured their victory in the 2024 Bali Governor and Deputy Governor Election with 61.49% of the votes.
Defeating Muliawan Arya and Putu Agus Suradnyana, Koster-Giri is ready to implement the “Bali Development Plan, 100 Years of Bali New Era 2025-2125” program. What will be the focus of the Bali provincial government this time?
Who are Koster and Giri?
I Wayan Koster is a senior politician who joined the 2024 election-winning party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
According to the party’s official website, the man born in Singaraja on October 20, 1962, began his career as a researcher and lecturer at renowned universities. After serving three terms as a member of the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2018, Koster was elected as the Governor of Bali for 2018-2023.
Meanwhile, Koster’s deputy is Nyoman Giri Prasta. Born on March 19, 1972, he has also been a member of PDI-P.
He also served three terms as Badung’s Regional House of Representatives since 2004. Giri Prasta was elected twice as the Regent of Badung, his birthplace. The first was in the 2016 election, and the second in 2021. Â
New Economic Center
During the campaign, Koster-Giri emphasized that their priorities are job creation and establishing new economic centers. Koster is well aware that as a world-class destination, the tourism industry in Bali is more sustainable compared to natural resources like oil, gas, and coal mining.
However, learning from the decline in the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Koster also intends to balance the structure and fundamentals of Bali’s economy.
During his leadership, Koster explained that the tourism sector will function as a locomotive to drive 5Â other sectors that are also the focus of development in Bali. These 5 sectors are:
1. The agricultural sector with an organic farming system,
2. The maritime and fisheries sector,
3. The manufacturing industry and culture-based industry
4. The small and medium industries, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and cooperatives sector,
5. The creative and digital economy sector,
“This has become a document approved by the National Development Planning Agency, and starting in 2025, we will accelerate its implementation,” said Koster in early November 2024.
Alcoholic Beverages and Nominee Practices
As the Governor of Bali from 2018 to 2023, Wayan Koster has some unusual track records. One of them was supporting investment in alcoholic beverage commodities in four provinces, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Papua.
As a result, President Jokowi issued Presidential Regulation Number 10 in 2021. This regulation strengthened the regional regulation that Koster signed in 2020 regarding the Management of Fermented and/or Distilled Beverages to revive alcoholic beverages produced by Small/Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Bali.
In his second term, Koster plans to prepare regional regulations to prevent nominee practices that often occur in the property sector. Since foreign nationals are not allowed to own property in Indonesia, they often use local residents as the owners on the property certificates they purchase.
This practice is illegal and can be detrimental to both parties in case of disputes. Therefore, it is not surprising that legal practitioners in Bali welcome this proposed regulation as legal certainty that protects both local communities and foreign investments.
More Business Opportunities
Bali awaits your business ventures with open arms! Under the leadership of Governor Wayan Koster and Deputy Governor Nyoman Giri Prasta, there is a renewed commitment to creating legal certainty for businesses and investments.
As Bali strives to establish new economic centers to boost regional revenues, there has never been a better time to start your business here.
At Seven Stones Indonesia, we specialize in streamlining the legal process for foreigners looking to invest and develop their businesses in Bali. Let’s work together to turn your business plans into reality. Contact us today to explore the endless possibilities Bali has to offer.
