Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of New Terminal of Mopah Airport, 3 October 2021, in Merauke Regency, Papua Province

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good morning,

Peace and prosperity be upon us all,

Shalom.

Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani,

Honorable Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,

Honorable Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI),

Honorable Regent of Merauke Romanus Mbaraka, Religious and Community Leaders,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

As an archipelagic country that spans a vast distance, we need connectivity as a way to connect with each other. It unites us as one nation. It facilitates the mobility of people, goods, and services so that our economy will be more efficient, which can increase our country’s competitiveness in global competition. That is the importance of infrastructure. For the last seven years, we have continued to build and develop airports, build ports to facilitate sea toll connectivity, and build roads throughout the country.

Distinguished Guests,

We continue to develop Mopah Airport in Merauke, which is located at the eastern tip of Indonesia. Today, the construction of new passenger terminal covering an area of ​​7,200 square meters has been completed. It has a capacity of 638,000 passengers per year. This is huge. And we hope that this new terminal can further improve the quality of service to passengers and we also hope that it will be more organized, cleaner, and more comfortable so that passengers are well served at the airport.

In the future, the capacity of the airport terminal will continue to be increased to anticipate the increase in the number of passengers, to anticipate the increase in community mobility and existing economic activities.

I would like to say to the Governor and especially to Regent of Merauke to make the best use of this airport and encourage the birth of new economic centers in Merauke regency and its surroundings, as well as to increase regional competitiveness in exports and investment. This is so that the airport can really be beneficial and improve the welfare of the people of Merauke and generally the progress of the Land of Papua.

This concludes my remarks. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, in the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, I inaugurate the New Terminal of Mopah Airport in Merauke, Papua province.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

May God bless us. (FI/MMB)