Gibran Rakabuming Raka is a relatively new politician. Under the PDI-P party, he began his political career in 2019, ahead of the regional elections (Pilkada) in Solo (Surakarta).
Gibran quickly won the 2020 Pilkada with his running mate, Teguh Prakosa. According to *Katadata*, Teguh is a former chairman of the city's Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD).
Despite being a newcomer, Gibran's influence is significant. The son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) won the election with 86.5% of the vote. His opponent, the independent candidate pair Bagyo Wahyono and Suparjo Fransiskus Xaverius, received 13.5% of the vote.
Gibran was inaugurated as the Mayor of Surakarta in February 2021. He has now been chosen by presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto as his running mate in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Over his two years in office, how has his performance driven Solo's economic growth?
Data from the Surakarta City Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) compiled economic growth data for the city over the past seven years in the *Surakarta City Economic Indicators 2022* report.
In 2016, the average annual economic growth of Surakarta City was recorded at 5.35% (cumulative to cumulative/c-to-c). This figure consistently increased, reaching 5.78% in 2019.
However, in 2020, growth plummeted to -1.76%. This decline is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced restrictions on activities to curb the spread of the virus.
A year later, economic growth increased to 4.01%. This was Gibran's first year in office.
Then, in the latest data for 2022, annual economic growth reached 6.25%. This is the highest figure in the last seven years.
BPS also recorded Surakarta City's regional gross domestic product (PDRB) at current prices (ADHB) at Rp55.96 trillion in 2022. Meanwhile, the PDRB at constant prices (ADHK) was Rp38.47 trillion in the same year.
(See also: Does the Public Agree with Gibran as Prabowo's Potential Running Mate?)