2016: Widodo to Focus on Border Areas, Rural Communities  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo said that empowering small communities living in border areas as well as rural communities are a priority target of his Working Cabinet for year 2016.

Speaking before a closed cabinet meeting about the national economy at the Presidential Office in yesterday, Widodo said he wants farmers and fishermen to be empowered. This desire, he said, stems from the government's alignment with marginalized groups.

Widodo asked relevant officials to secure farmers' crop as well as their prices and supplies. In the tourism sector, it is expected there is development in eastern Indonesia.

For a short-term infrastructure achievement, the President ordered his staff to make sure the routes used for Eid homecoming are safe and secured; as with the flow of logistics distribution. In addition, the president asked his cabinet to make sure there is enough fuel supply.

This year, Jokowi hopes that pro-people priority programs can be implemented immediately. The president said he would remind his ministries from priority sectors about their promise to improve performances.

He asked the ministers concerned to create breakthroughs so that their work will have an actual, immediate impact that the people can benefit from.

ALI HIDAYAT | TRI ARTINING PUTRI