Gov’t to Build Another Cross-Border Post in Merauke

President Jokowi accompanied by First Lady Iriana Jokowi reviews Sota cross-border post, (16/11). (Photo: BPMI)

The Indonesian Government has since 2015 built 7 cross-border posts – known as PLBN –  to improve people’s welfare and boost local economic activities in the border areas.

Those 7 border posts are located in several border points, namely Entikong border post, Badau border post and Aruk border post in West Kalimantan province; Motaain border post, Motamasin border post and Wini border post in East Nusa Tenggara province; and Skouw border post in Papua province.

For next year, the Government will build the Sota PLBN in Merauke, Papua province.

“In the past four years, we have built 7 border posts in Aruk, Badau, Entikong, Wini, Motaain, Motamasin, and Skouw. In January 2019, we will start the construction of Sota PLBN,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said during the visit to the construction site of Sota border post on Friday (11/16).

According to the President, the development of the border post is expected to boost the economy in the border areas and its surrounding communities, as well as to become a pride for people living in the region. “I hope the border post can be a new economic growth point and our pride because border area is the forefront of our country,” he said.

Just like other border posts, the Sota border post will also be equipped with various supporting facilities such as immigration posts and quarantine posts, the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also ordered his Ministers to build public markets in the border post area to develop people’s economic activities. With the presence of those public markets, according to the President, a cross-border post will also bring direct benefits to the surrounding communities, not merely as a crossing post. “I specifically have ordered to build a public market in the border post area to boost economic activities of the local people, just like in the Skouw border post,” the President concluded.

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas