National Strategic Programs Bring Added Values to Regional Development: President Jokowi

President Jokowi leads a limited cabinet meeting on Monday (6/6) at the Presidential Office

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo believes that national strategic projects will bring added values to development in the regions because those projects are carried out in all over Indonesia such as Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.

Therefore, the President instructs his administration to stay focused so that those priority programs that encompass 225 projects in 13 sectors can bewell-implemented.

“We have to ensure that the road, railway, airport, seaport, housing complex, agriculture, maritime, clean water, dams, technology, border posts, and electricity projects can be implemented well,” President Jokowi said in his introductory remarks at a limited cabinet meeting on the Evaluation of the Implementation of Strategic Projects, at the Presidential Office, on Monday (6/6).

President Jokowi went on to say that after 6 months, he had been informed that of those 225 projects, 139 of them (56%)are still at the planning stage, while other 88 projects (44%) are at the execution stage.

“I have instructed Coordinating Minister for the Economy, National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) or Presidential staff to continue monitoring those projects real time. And if they find any barriers, please find out where the barriers are on the ground, for example, funding, land acquisition, or other problems,” the President said.

The President added that although he always monitors and visits the projects, he also instructs Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Bappenas to always follow the development of those projects.

Also attending the meeting were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ferry M. Baldan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said, Minister of IndustrySalehHusin, Minister of Defense Ryarmizard Ryacudu, Minister of Research and Technology M. Nasir, Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Gatot Nurmantyo, and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Franky Sibarani. (FID/JAY/ES)  (EP/YM/Naster)