TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan promises to transform Sorong in Southwest Papua into an agro-maritime city. The statement was relayed during his time in Sorong on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

"We are planning to transform Sorong into an agro-maritime city in Indonesia. Meaning, this city will become an agricultural and fisheries service center," he said as quoted from Anies Baswedan's YouTube account on Wednesday.

According to Anies, the development in Sorong must be prioritized due to its impact on the residents and Papua in general.

Anies will take Sorong as one of the 40 priority cities if he is elected in the upcoming general elections. "We will make Sorong one of the forty cities we develop since we want Indonesia to advance simultaneously," he said.

The running candidate in the 14th of February election also reflects on the IKN-focused development the government is engaging with these days. Anies said one of the measures to take in transforming Sorong into an agro-maritime city is to revitalize its ports and ensure welfare for its farmers and fishermen.

"Farmers and fishermen must be supported with capital, access to fuel, ease of access to fertilizers, to boost agricultural and fisheries sectors in Sorong," he said. "If that happens (Sorong as an agro-maritime city), not only Sorong, all of Southwest Papua will experience the impact."

Anies Baswedan spent his 50th day of the campaign period in Papua, arriving on Tuesday morning, January 16, 2024.

ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA

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