TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo has called to optimally develop areas of potential in the border regions by improving their infrastructure facilities and developing economic centers to boostexports and imports.
"As I have earlier said, we are keen to improve the conditions in our border regions such as in Papua and Kalimantan," he remarked while opening a meeting on the issue at his office here on Tuesday.
Apart from infrastructure development, which is not yet maximal, the president affirmed that economic opportunities such as exports and imports also need to be utilized optimally.
"When I visited the border post in Entikong in January, I clearly saw export-import opportunities, but they have not been utilized well," he remarked.
Citing the importance of border development, he referred to Malaysia that has identified a location in Sarawak as an international airport to boost its exports and imports.
"All ministries must cooperate because this year we will develop all border areas, and I hope they will coordinate, so that the border regions could be maximally utilized by the people for export-import activities while illegal activities could be eradicated by the police," he emphasized.
As an initial step, the president noted that the government had allocated Rp1 trillion for improving the border post facility in Entikong, West Kalimantan.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono.
ANTARA
