New Airport in Nabire Expected to Become Major Airport: President Jokowi

President Jokowi visits Nabire Regency, Papua Province, Wednesday (20/12) to visit a project site for the development of Douw Aturure Airport. (Photo by: Bureau of Press and Media)

On the sidelines of his working visit to Nabire Regency, Papua Province, on Wednesday (20/12), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited a project site where the new Douw Aturure Airport will be built in.

The President believes that the Airport would become a major airport and connect other regencies because Nabire Regency is strategically located in the heart of Papua Province.

According to the President, the Airport will connect Nabire and other surrounding regencies such as Paniai, Dogiyai, Diyai, Intan Jaya, Puncak Jaya, Puncak, Waropen, Wondama, and Kaimana.

As the first step in the development of the Airport, President Jokowi said that the Government would build a passenger terminal covering an area of 8,000 square meters and in the next stage, it will be developed into 15,000- square meters. President Jokowi hopes that the construction of the Airport can be completed in 2020.

President Jokowi also believes that the new Douw Aturure Airport will also increase tourism potentials in Papua Province, particularly in Nabire Regency. “Certainly, we hope that the Airport can bring a good effect (for tourism sector) because Nabire is surrounded by very beautiful sceneries,” the President said.

Also joining the President during the visit were First Lady Ibu Iriana, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, and Papua Governor Lukas Enembe. (BPMI/EN) (EP/YM/Naster)