President Jokowi Asks to Accelerate Ports and Airports Construction in Maluku
President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that as an archipelagic province, Maluku has special challenges different from other provinces which most of their territories are land.
The main challenge is connectivity either between regions at the same island, between islands, or between Maluku and other provinces, the President said when delivering his introductory remarks at a limited meeting on Evaluation on the Implementation of National Strategic Projects and Priority Programs in Maluku Province, held at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (21/2).
Therefore, there are several things that must be taken into account. First, the President asked Government apparatus to focus on solving connectivity problem by accelerating infrastructure development, such as roads, bridges, ports, and airports.
I believe if the regions in Maluku Province are connected, peoples and goods mobility will be better and logistics price will decrease. Moreover, economic equality in all regions in Maluku will be manifested, the President further said.
Second, as an archipelagic province, the President believes marine and fishery sectors can be the engine of economic growth. The President reminded that during the last two years, economic growth in Maluku is at the average level of national economic growth.
In terms of the structure of the economy, the President added, Maluku is still supported by consumption spendings, both household and the government. Meanwhile, regional economy is supported by agriculture, trade, and retail sectors. It means, the potential in marine and fishery sectors must be maximally used, the President said.
According to the President, to develop processing industry, both in fishery and marine sectors, oil and gas sectors in Masela Block and its surroundings must prepare the human resources.
Therefore, the President asked all to seriously prepare education as well as vocational trainings that suit the development of the regions potential, so Maluku Province will have more skilled and competitive manpowers.
The limited meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, 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, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister or Tourism Arief Yahya, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Archandra Tahar, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Bambang Brodjonegoro, and Governor of Maluku Said Assagaff.
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