President Jokowi Leads Cabinet Meeting on Development of Areas Surrounding Suramadu Bridge

President Jokowi led limited cabinet meeting on the development of areas surrounding Suramadu Bridge (3/2)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Wednesday (3/1) at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, led a limited cabinet meeting on the development of regions surrounding Suramadu Bridge in East Java.

In his introductory remarks, the President said that in 2016, the Government’s attention is not only on boosting economic growth but also on the promoting equality of development.

“Our direction is clear. We aim for the development equality in Java and outside Java, in western Indonesia and eastern Indonesia. Our development must also be ‘Indonesia-centrist’ so the benefits of the development can be felt by people all over the country,” the President said.

Related to the development in the areas surrounding Suramadu Bridge, President Jokowi said that the Bridge was built to move the economy in East Java and to accelerate the development of Madura Island so gap between regions can be narrowed down and equality in the development can be reached.

“With the presence of the Bridge, it is expected that mobility of people and goods will be faster and more efficient than before when people and goods were transported with ships,” the President said.

The meeting was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Resources Rizal Ramli, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, East Java Governor Soekarwo, and Surabaya Mayor Elect Tri Rismaharini. (FID/DAN/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)