So the development priority is a manifestation of the government’s commitment to make Papua prosperous
President Joko Widodo emphasized that the Land of Papua is the government’s priority in realizing Indonesia-centric development. These various developments have been proven to be able to improve people’s transportation access, thereby having a positive impact on welfare and reducing gaps with other regions. The government’s commitment is aimed at reducing poverty rates, reducing the cost index, and equalizing infrastructure development throughout Indonesia.
Currently, the government has completed the construction of a number of infrastructure in the Land of Papua such as roads, bridges, airports, and state border crossing posts (PLBN). So, in the future the mobility of the Papuan people will be easier and there will be an influx of investment that can absorb the workforce there
The President said that infrastructure development in Papua had consumed quite a large budget. As an economic corridor, the Papua region will receive investment projects based on natural resources, development of special areas, and the creation of new economic centers. Therefore, the active role of the entire community is needed to continue to oversee development in the Land of Papua so that it runs optimally and can have positive benefits for the land of Cenderawasih.
The Acting Governor of South Papua, Apolo Safanpo, said that his party appreciates the government’s steps to build massive infrastructure. He explained that Papua only started developing in 1970, so there has been a development gap that has occurred over the past few years with other provinces in Indonesia. But with massive infrastructure development, it will reduce and equalize Papua with other regions.
This infrastructure development can improve the economy in Papua. Starting from the production sector to the distribution of goods and services to the market. There are at least three things that need to be considered in efforts to improve the economy in Papua. The first is the point of production, distribution and market. At the point of production in the agricultural sector, for example, adequate land is required. Then we also need seeds, fertilizer, agricultural technology tools, and trained human resources. Second, in the distribution sector, the Papuan people need transportation and intermodal connectivity. As well as the availability of markets to market production results. If production is high but there is no distribution, the market will die. If the market dies then production will also die. Likewise, on the other hand, the market is there, intermodal connectivity is good, good transportation is available. So all of these programs are closely related and have a positive influence.
Steps to build infrastructure in Papua will eventually open up regional isolation and increase access and connectivity from land and multimodal, including the construction of the Trans Papua Road with a total length of 3,462 kilometers.
The central government continues to strive for various methods to create a more advanced Indonesia. The steps taken are through infrastructure development efforts, improving the licensing bureaucracy, improving the provision of health services, and so on. Papua Province is included in the main attention of the Joko Widodo government because this province is a province that requires more attention compared to other regions in Indonesia. Acceleration in building infrastructure is a concrete step for the government to advance Papuan human resources. Because with these steps, Papuan human resources can manage abundant natural resources.
Papua has a lot of potential, both natural resources and human resources, and the government wants the region to be more developed with this potential. So President Jokowi sees this potential by expanding infrastructure development to make Papua even better.
Vice President, Ma’ruf Amin, said that the government’s great attention to Papua, especially Fakfak, which is located in West Papua province, was realized by the construction of Thumburuni Market which burned down after the 2019 riots. Apart from that, the government is also building Siboru airport to accommodate the mobility of the surrounding community. Fakfak also has a fertilizer factory from Pupuk Kaltim as well as a smelter built by PT Freeport Indonesia. So, slowly the Papuan people will become more prosperous through various new economic points.
So far, transportation problems have been hindered by Papua’s natural conditions, making the prices of goods and services very expensive. When all the infrastructure is built, the price of goods can be reduced because transportation costs are cheap. The Papuan people will be greatly helped and prosperity will increase because they are able to get competitive logistics prices and provide various conveniences in accessing public services.
Accelerating development of facilities and infrastructure in Papua must be able to run smoothly and optimally. Because through this, various sectors will have an impact because logistics costs will become cheaper. If the infrastructure has been built, it is hoped that the distance between regions and provincial government offices and the people will be closer.
Full support from the community is needed in developing infrastructure in Papua. The people realized that massive development was being carried out for good purposes and for their progress. With integration and cooperation, infrastructure development will run well and on time.
