Ten Years of Papua’s Progress as an Integral Part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia Under President Jokowi’s Leadership
By: Rehuel Kambu
The ten years of leadership of the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia have brought significant transformation to the Land of Cenderawasih. President Jokowi, the leader of the nation born in the city of Surakarta, has emphasized since the beginning of his term that development in Papua is one of the main priorities of his administration.
With an Indonesia-centric vision, the Head of State ensures that the region nicknamed the Little Paradise that Fell to Earth receives full attention in efforts for sustainable and equitable development.
In the last decade, the Cenderawasih Earth has experienced significant development acceleration, especially in the field of infrastructure. The Trans Papua road, new airports, and increasingly modern ports are tangible evidence of President Joko Widodo’s commitment. The progress has opened up connectivity between regions in Papua, facilitating access for communities that have long been isolated, and creating increasingly broader economic opportunities.
According to Hendrina Dian Kandipi, Head of the Antara News Agency Bureau in Papua, infrastructure development in the region known as the Little Heaven in Eastern Indonesia has experienced massive progress during the two terms of President Jokowi’s leadership.
Infrastructure projects like the Trans Papua Highway not only facilitate transportation and the distribution of goods but also serve as the backbone in efforts to improve the welfare of local communities.
The development of that infrastructure has reduced disparities between regions and opened wider access for communities in remote areas to enjoy better public services.
President Joko Widodo often makes direct visits to the region nicknamed the Little Paradise at the edge of Indonesia. According to the Minister of Defense and the elected President during the 2024 elections, Prabowo Subianto, the leader of the nation born in the city of Surakarta is the Head of State who has visited Papua the most during his term in office.
His direct presence in the midst of the Papuan community has strengthened the relationship between the central government and the local people, as well as ensured that the development programs launched can proceed as planned.
President Jokowi’s presence in the field also has a significant psychological impact on the community, as they feel heard and directly attended to by the leader of the nation born in 1961.
In addition to infrastructure development, the region nicknamed the City of Gold is also experiencing improvements in various social and economic sectors. President Jokowi ensures that local community empowerment programs are an integral part of development policies in Papua.
The program aims to improve the welfare of the community through training, education, and access to business capital. With increasingly adequate infrastructure, the people of Papua now have greater opportunities to develop their economic potential, whether through agriculture, fisheries, or small and medium enterprises.
Development in Papua is also part of the efforts of the seventh President of Indonesia to realize social justice for all Indonesian people. The Head of State often emphasizes that Papua must be a priority for government development so that there is no longer any disparity between the western and eastern regions of Indonesia.
The Indonesia-centric development continues, where Papua receives the same level of attention as other regions in Indonesia. Thus, Papua is no longer an marginalized area, but has become an integral part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia that is continuously advancing and developing.
The transformation that has occurred in Papua over the last 10 years is also recognized by various parties as a result of the strong commitment from the nation’s leader born in Surakarta. Prabowo Subianto believes that development in Papua has accelerated rapidly, and this is closely linked to President Jokowi’s commitment to ensuring that every region in Indonesia, including Papua, receives equal rights in development. This success is not only evident in physical aspects but also in the improvement of the quality of life for the local community.
On various occasions, President Jokowi has also emphasized the importance of the role of the Papuan people in overseeing the ongoing development. The people of Papua are expected to actively participate in maintaining and utilizing the infrastructure that has been built, so that its benefits can be felt sustainably. With community participation, development in Papua will proceed more effectively and in accordance with local needs.
Over the past ten years, Papua has undergone drastic changes. Not only in terms of increasingly modern infrastructure, but also in terms of the social and economic welfare of the community.
The development programs initiated by Indonesia’s first president, who came from outside the political or military elite, have yielded tangible results that are felt by the people of Papua.
Papua is no longer an isolated region; it is now well-connected through various completed and ongoing infrastructure projects. The people of Papua can now enjoy better access to healthcare services, education, and economic opportunities.
The Land of Cenderawasih continues to experience positive development, and all of this is inseparable from President Jokowi’s hard work and commitment to ensuring that equitable and fair development can be achieved throughout the entire country.
With the successes achieved over the past 10 years, Papua stands firm as an integral part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia that continues to grow and develop. The transformation occurring in the region nicknamed the Little Paradise in Eastern Indonesia shows that Papua has great potential to become a prosperous and independent area, in line with the ongoing development.
*) Political Observer of Papua and Remote Areas – East Indonesia Political Study Center
