President Jokowi Asks for Acceleration of Seaports, Airports, Road Development in West Papua

West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan (leftmost) attends a limited meeting led by President Jokowi, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/7)

After leading a limited meeting on the Evaluation on Implementation of National Strategic Projects and Priority Programs in Papua Province, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, led a limited meeting on the Evaluation on Implementation of National Strategic Projects and Priority Programs in West Papua Province, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/7).

In his introductory remarks, President Jokowi said that West Papua Province faces several challenges, such as how to improve access to isolated areas, to open more new job opportunities, to eradicate poverty, and to create a more equitable development.

The President reminded all that the Human Development Index (IPM) in West Papua was placed second worse among other provinces in Indonesia. “I think these are the tasks that we must complete in order to improve the prosperity of the people in West Papua Province,” the President added.

According to the President, over the last 2.5 years, the Government has been focussing on accelerating infrastructure development and increasing connectivity between West Papua  and other regions in Indonesia, given that connectivity is indispensable for West Papua not only to improve access to isolated areas but also to reduce logistics costs, and to improve competitiveness of local products.

For that reason, President Jokowi asked to accelerate seaports development in Sorong, Bintuni, and Kaimana, ferry ports development in Wasior and Polei, as well as airports development in several locations. “I also instructed all to pay attention to the acceleration of strategic road development connecting the centers of economic development,” President Jokowi asserted.

Attending the limited meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/ Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education M. Nasir, and Governor of West Papua Dominggus Mandacan. (FID/JAY/ES) (RA/MMB/YM/Naster)