Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Opening up isolation, creating new jobs, alleviating poverty, carrying out more equitable development, and increasing the human development index are part of efforts to overcome challenges in West Papua Province, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) remarked here on Wednesday.

"These are the great jobs that we have to do to overcome the challenges in West Papua, and to improve the welfare of the people in the province," President Jokowi said when chairing a limited cabinet meeting to evaluate the implementation of national strategic projects and priority programs of West Papua at his office.

Jokowi revealed that in the past two and a half years the government has set its focus on accelerating infrastructure development and improving connectivity of West Papua with other regions.

"Connectivity is necessary for West Papua, not only to open the isolated areas, but also to reduce logistics costs and improve the competitiveness of existing local products," the president noted.

Hence, the president requested that the construction of ports,in Sorong, Bintuni, and Kaymana; the development of the ferry dock in Wasior, and the development of several airports accelerated.

"I also ask for the acceleration of the development of strategic roads connecting between the centers of economic development," said the President.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017