TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo wants Entikong - which lies near the border between Indonesia and Malaysia - to be developed into a new and modern hub for economic activity. "We want large-scale economic activities to take place here - not through the creation of malls, but a modern-market where micro and small enterprises could trade in," he said during a visit to Entikong's border control area in West Kalimantan's regency of Sanggau on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.
According to Jokowi, the government should now focus of developing Indonesia's borders. "Our borders are the windows to our backyard - it should be our pride and joy, and visitors should be able to get a sense of how big our country is by peering through our borders," he said. "Economic activities must not be focused in Java, as there should also be centres of economic activities in Indonesia's peripheries - in Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, as well as Papua."
On January 21, 2015, President Jokowi had ordered his administration to further develop Entikong into a centre of economic activity. "Entikong had been neglected for over 25 years - its' condition is extremely different to Malaysia, which is a stone's throw away," he said. "The level of service provided, the ports, and the physical infrastructure is way behind, compared to what is available and offered just across the border."
His visit on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, is meant as a supervisory visit to see the progress of Entikong's development, which is slated to be completed by the end of 2016. "I assure you - when we're done, Entikong would be in much better shape compared to what lies beyond the border," said Jokowi.
Entikong's border control area has been under construction since August 11, 2016. The Rp152.49 billion project is being built over a plot of land measuring in at 80,003 square metres, and the border control area will be divided into three different zones - a core, sub-core, and peripheral zone.
A market will also be built in Entikong, where local residents could trade their goods - a decision that is hoped to be able to jumpstart the local economy as Entikong is the main gateway for the traffic of goods and services between Indonesia and Malaysia. "We want local residents to benefit from the project, so a modern market will be established here," said Jokowi.
ANTARA
