President Jokowi Asks Southeast Sulawesi Governor to Develop Wakatobis Marine Tourism
President Jokowi leads a Limited Meeting on Evaluation of National Strategic Programs and Priority Projects of Southeast Sulawesi Province, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (10/4) (Photo: PR/Jay)
In Southeast Sulawesi, economic growth in 2016 grew by 6.51 percent. This relatively high growth was supported by three main sectors, namely agriculture, forestry, and fishery that contributed 24.3 percent, followed by mining sector 19.35 percent, and construction sector 14.02 percent.These figures was revealed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo when delivering his introductory remarks at a Limited Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (10/4).
Growth momentum in agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors, the President added, must be maintained. Therefore, it needs to develop superior commodities in agriculture and plantation sectors, for example cocoa in East Kolaka Regency. And I ask the State Budget (APBN)/Regional State Budget (APBD) for agriculture sector to be used for horticulture development, not only rice, the President said.
The President also asked related parties to accelerate infrastructure development that supports agriculture sector, such as the construction of Ladongi and Pelosika Dams as well as their irrigation infrastructures. The President also reminded that the construction of irrigation infrastructure shouldmatch with the amount of the rice fields, so the construction would not be useless.
So that the growth in agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors as well as mining sector can give higher added value to Southeast Sulawesi, it needs to be supported by processing industry, the President added while explaining although processing industry contributes only 6.1 percent, this sector is gradually improving.
Thus, the President ordered to make breakthrough measures to develop industrial areas, for example Konawe industrial area that is designed to be integrated and connected with a port.
Besides those three sectors, the President has analyzed that Southeast Sulawesi Province has a very potential sector, i.e. marine tourism sector. The beauty of the sea in Wakatobi could be developed into a very strong magnet to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists.
If this potential could be optimally developed, in particular by accelerating the development of Wakatobi as national tourism strategic area, facilitating transportation access andconnectivity, as well as developing supporting infrastructures, rapid acceleration of economic growth in Southeast Sulawesi could be realized, the President said.
Also accompanying President Jokowi on the Limited Meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimoeljono, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Minister of Research and Technology and Higher Education M. Nasir, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Head of Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong, Head of Finance and Development Supervisory Agency Ardan Adiperdana, and Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Nur Alam. (DNA/FID/JAY/EN)(MMB/YM/Naster)
