As the city of Mataram marks its 32nd anniversary, it stands not only as the capital of the West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB) but also as a representation of the province on both national and international stages. This sentiment was expressed by NTB Governor L. Muhammad Iqbal in a speech delivered by Mataram Mayor H. Mohan Roliskana during the city’s anniversary ceremony held on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at Sangkareang Field.
Governor Iqbal highlighted that Mataram, established as an autonomous city 32 years ago, has transformed into a significant barometer for NTB. This anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the city’s journey, appreciate its achievements, and solidify future directions. In the past year, Mataram has garnered remarkable accomplishments worth celebrating.
Achievements and Recognition
Among its accolades, Mataram was awarded the title of Most Innovative City at the 2024 Innovative Government Award. This recognition underscores the city’s ability to not only keep pace with modern developments but also to leap forward with innovative governance and public service initiatives tailored to community needs.
The city also achieved an unbroken streak of 11 consecutive unqualified opinions (WTP) from the Audit Board of Indonesia, reflecting rigorous financial management marked by accountability, transparency, and consistency. Furthermore, Mataram was ranked as the second most advanced city outside Java in the 2025 report by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), highlighting its role as a driver of progress in eastern Indonesia and opening doors for broader investment and development partnerships.
Community and Cultural Milestones
These achievements are attributed to visionary leadership, bureaucratic diligence, community creativity, business contributions, and the support of religious leaders. Governor Iqbal praised these efforts, emphasizing that unity between the government and citizens can achieve the seemingly impossible.
Local achievements also include Karang Pule Village in the Sekarbela District winning a national competition for villages, demonstrating that the strength of Mataram lies not only in government offices but also at the grassroots level. Additionally, Mataram emerged as the overall champion in the 2024 NTB Regional Recreation Festival, securing 130 medals, which reinforces its status as a hub for recreational sports excellence in NTB.
Looking to the Future
During the ceremony, Mayor Roliskana stressed that accolades should be viewed as stepping stones towards improving the quality of life for residents. As the city faces challenges such as rapid urbanization, infrastructure demands, climate change, and complex public service needs, the mayor remains optimistic that these can be tackled through collective effort and unity.
In line with the anniversary theme “Our City, Our Future,” the mayor called on all stakeholders to recognize that Mataram’s future is a shared responsibility. He urged the community to empower the youth, providing them with opportunities to innovate and contribute, as they are the future stewards of the city.
The anniversary celebration also featured several significant events, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between internal government auditors and law enforcement, the handover of copyrights, launching of organic waste processing initiatives, and distribution of various aids and facilities to support the community.
Concluding his remarks, the mayor encouraged residents to foster unity and community spirit, asserting that a truly great city is defined by its strong solidarity rather than towering buildings.
