By: Ahmad Dzul Ilmi Muis)*
The entire community deserves to give the highest possible appreciation for how the progress of infrastructure development has been carried out by the Government of Indonesia in preparing for the smoothness and convenience of holding the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
It is a truly extraordinary honor for Indonesia to be able to become Chair of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in 2023. Indonesia’s chairmanship in the event will make ASEAN a region that continues to be relevant to the world and will even be able to make the ASEAN region a center for growth.
It is known that Indonesia raised the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth at the 42nd ASEAN Summit. Then, the President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that ASEAN must indeed become a stable and peaceful region, not only that, but also must be able to become an anchor for world stability.
Furthermore, ASEAN must also be able to continue to be consistent in enforcing international law and not become a proxy for anyone. The ASEAN region must be able to become an area that has high dignity and continues to uphold human and democratic values.
Furthermore, President Joko Widodo wants ASEAN to strengthen itself to become a fast-growing, inclusive and sustainable economic region. On the other hand, increasing the capacity of ASEAN institutions is also a concern, in order to be able to respond to the challenges of the next 20 years.
The future target for ASEAN in 2045 is to be able to become a region that is much more adaptive, responsive and also has high competitiveness. All of these things must indeed continue to be fought for in a way that ASEAN is able to consistently with a high spirit of cooperation carry out the ASEAN Charter as a whole.
With Indonesia’s chairmanship at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in 2023, the Government of Indonesia has prepared many things in welcoming all the visiting delegation guests.
The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is completing the improvement and construction of a new road from Labuan Bajo to Tanamori in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This support aims to facilitate the connectivity of the Labuan Bajo National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN) while at the same time supporting the implementation of the ASEAN Summit.
Regarding this, the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono explained that increasing accessibility and connectivity to the road infrastructure network to bridges must be carried out continuously to provide smooth, safe, secure and comfortable road users.
The reason is, it cannot be denied that according to him when road access can be made better, it will automatically be able to support the improvement of the economy of the people in the surrounding area and also include being able to revive the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, Head of the NTT National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN) Agustinus Junianto said the scope of work included the construction of the Labuan Bajo – Sp. Nalis – Sp. Kenari – Tanamori along 25 km and four bridges with a total length of 175 meters.
The construction of the Labuan Bajo – Tanamori Road is divided into 5 segments, namely Labuan Bajo – Sp. Nalis along 6.15 km, Sp. Nalis – Sp. Walnuts 6.50 km long, Sp. Kenari – Warloka is 5.10 km long, Warloka – Tanamori is 4.25 km long, and the road improvement to Golomori Village is 3 km long.
Then, four bridges were also built and improved including the 60-meter Nanganae Bridge, the 35-meter Wae Mburak Bridge, the 40-meter Wae Kenari Bridge, and the 40-meter Soknar Bridge.
Agustinus Julianto stated that at this time, all the infrastructure prepared by the Government of Indonesia in welcoming the ASEAN Summit was at the completion stage with the remaining work, namely on improving the road to Golomori Village along 3 (three) km and carrying out tidying up the other four segments. . All of these improvements are intended to be used as an access road for guests of the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
With this road, the trip from Labuan Bajo to Tana Mori can be reached in only about 30 minutes and increases the accessibility of tourists to tourist destinations in Labuan Bajo. Of course, with increased connectivity from Labuan Bajo to Tanamori, it will be able to grow the local community’s economy, in particular being able to open access for isolated roads leading to the Golomori area.
All infrastructure development has been made the maximum effort by the Government of Indonesia in order to welcome the 2023 ASEAN Summit. This is aimed at making the event smooth and comfortable, as well as being able to improve the welfare of the local community, so that it deserves to be given the highest appreciation possible.
)* The author is an Anthropology alumni of Airlangga University
