President Jokowi Inaugurates Miangas Airport
President Jokowi, accompanied by Transportation Minister and North Sulawesi Governor, presses a button to mark the inauguration of Miangas Airport in Talaud Regency, North Sulawesi, Wednesday (19/10) (Photo by: Rusman/Presidential Secretariat)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo hopes that Indonesias outermost islands become the countrys frontiers instead of its backwaters. Therefore, the Government should seriously pay attention to outermost islands like Miangas Island, the President said.
We conduct development in all over Indonesia, not only in Java or Sumatera. We build Indonesia from its frontiers, outermost areas, and border areas, the President said at the inauguration of MiangasAirport in Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday (19/10).
With the operation of the Airport, President Jokowi reiterated that Miangas Islandis no longer a small island among 17,000 islands but it is Indonesias strategic forefront.
As Indonesias northernmost island, the distance from Miangas to the Philippines is only 48 nautical miles, while to Melonguane, the capital of Talaud Islands Regency, it is 129 nautical miles away and to Manado, it is 227 nautical miles away.
Let us show our neighboring countries that Indonesias forefront areas areregions that are well-maintained, developed, and deserve to take pride in, the President said.
On that occasion, President Jokowi also explained that the Government promotes development in every region of the country to show that the state is present.The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is present in the most concrete form that is providing transportation for its people and providing the best public services for its residents, including those in areas furthestfrom the countrys capital, the President said.
The Government, President Jokowi said, is alsocommitted to continue building roads in border areas, border posts, and improving public services in outermost areas.We want people in border areas, in outermost islands, take a bigger pride in becoming Indonesian citizens and have a bigger spirit to defend their country, the President said.
For the record, Miangas Airports runway is 1,400meters long and 30meters wide, with the airport terminal building occupying a 356-meter square area. More than Rp320 billion was budgeted to build the airport.
With the operation of this Airport, it is now faster to reach Talaud, Tahuna, Siau Islands, and Manado from Miangas, the President said.
Also attending the inauguration ceremony were First Lady IbuIrianaJokoWidodo, Minister of Transportation Budi KaryaSumadi, Presidential Chief of StaffTetenMasduki,and North Sulawesi GovernorOllyDondokambey. (BPMI Setpres/ES)(EP/YM/Naster)
