TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan confirmed the government's intention to develop West Papua through a series of infrastructure developments. Luhut made his statement while leading the coordination meeting on the acceleration of regional infrastructure development in the West Papuan Province, Sorong.

"It is not just to improve connectivity and [eliminating] isolation, but it is also meant to advance the regions in West Papua," said Luhut on Thursday, August 11, 2022, as quoted by Antaranews.

The meeting discussed a number of infrastructure projects such as the ongoing Trans Papua highway, which is planned to reach a total length of 3,462 kilometers, strategic roads in West Papua, and Siboru Fak Fak airport. The meeting also discussed the Existing Sorong Port and Arar Port, Waisai Port, Seaplane, water resources blue infrastructure, Tangguh LNG Train 3 Project, as well as regional economic development which Luhut claims, will later improve the value of local food sources and support national food resilience.

In the meeting, Luhut requested all infrastructure development in West Papua proceed according to a predetermined schedule. In carrying out research related to infrastructure projects, he said, local governments could be supported by the central government by inviting local universities and other academics.

ANTARA

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