President Jokowi Visits E. Nusa Tenggara to Inaugurate Infrastructure Projects, Inspect Regional General Hospitals

President Jokowi kicks off East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) working visit on Wednesday (10/02)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo embarked on a working visit to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, Wednesday (10/02). He was scheduled to inaugurate several infrastructure projects and inspect regional general hospitals and traditional markets.

Starting his working visit, the President departed for South Central Timor regency from El Tari International Airport, Kupang city, by the Indonesian Air Force’s Super Puma helicopter, at around 07.30 Central Indonesian Time.

In South Central Timor regency, President Jokowi inaugurated Temef Dam. The project costs Rp27 trillion and is expected to irrigate approximately 4,500 hectares of rice fields.

“Water is a very vital commodity in our daily lives. Especially in NTT, it is very essential,” President Joko Widodo said in his remarks.

He added that water is the key to prosperity in NTT, especially in the agricultural sector.

“Thanks to water, we can plant rice, cassava, and corn, once again, especially in NTT. Water is the key to NTT’s prosperity. Without it, NTT will unlikely be prosperous,” he continued.

Temef Dam had been built since 2017 with an inundation area of 298 hectares and has a water-carrying capacity of up to 45 million cubic meters. In addition to irrigating rice fields, the dam is expected to be able to reduce flooding in South Central Timor and Malaka regencies.

After the inauguration, President Jokowi and his entourage continued their journey to North Central Timor regency by the Indonesian Air Force’s Super Puma helicopter.

“President Jokowi will inaugurate the Napan Integrated Cross-Border Post (PLBN) in North Central Timor regency and other PLBNs in several regions in Indonesia. The President will also inspect the regional general hospitals (RSUD) and traditional markets,” Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Yusuf Permana said in his written statement. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/ABD)(FID/ABD)(AW/TM)