Palembang, The Indonesia Post — The 17th National KORPRI Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional KORPRI XVII 2025) concluded with great fanfare in Palembang, marking not only a historic sporting achievement but also an impressive economic impact that transformed the city into a vibrant hub of business activity. The closing ceremony took place at Plaza Jakabaring Sport City, Palembang, on Saturday evening (October 11, 2025).
As the host province, South Sumatra not only succeeded in organizing the national event but also demonstrated athletic excellence by securing second place overall. The South Sumatra contingent earned a total of 24 medals — 9 gold, 7 silver, and 8 bronze — finishing just behind the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs (Kemenpora), which claimed the top position.
In his remarks, Governor of South Sumatra H. Herman Deru expressed his gratitude and amazement at the remarkable economic momentum generated by the event.
“Hosting the 2025 National KORPRI Sports Week has been a tremendous success for the South Sumatra Provincial Government, with a truly festive impact. We witnessed extraordinary economic activity — flights were fully booked, hotels were at capacity, and our local small businesses, especially pempek producers, experienced a major boost,” Governor Deru said.
The Governor shared striking data about Palembang’s signature culinary icon, pempek. Normally, the city consumes around 11 tons per day, but during the games, consumption surged dramatically to 24 tons daily — completely selling out.
“This shows how massive the economic ripple effect has been. I was initially worried sales might drop after the event, but fortunately, many now sell pempek online,” he added, highlighting the long-term benefits for local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Chairman of the KORPRI Sports Board (BP Bapor KORPRI), Prof. Asrorun Niam Sholeh, also extended high praise to South Sumatra for its excellent organization and hospitality.
(mhn/ril)
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