President Visits Three Provinces In Eastern Indonesia

Jakarta (Antara Bali)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana left for Ambon, Maluku, here, Monday, to start a three-day working visit to the provinces of Maluku, West Papua, and North Maluku located in eastern Indonesia.

The president and his entourage departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, eastern Jakarta, Monday, at around 11:30 a.m. local time by the Indonesia-I presidential aircraft.

Jokowi has reiterated several times that the national development program must focus on Indonesia as a whole and not merely Java.

"I have told all ministers that the development must begin from the border areas to the center. It is not Java-centric. It must be Indonesia-centric," the head of state emphasized.

President Jokowi is scheduled to inaugurate several infrastructure projects.

The president will officiate the Red and White Bridge in Ambon, Maluku, and Wasior Harbor in West Papua.

In Morotai, North Maluku, Jokowi will symbolically inaugurate new and renewable energy projects located in North Maluku, Maluku, Papua, and West Papua.

Symbolic inauguration of five seaports will be held in Tobelo Harbor in North Halmahera District, North Maluku.

The four other harbors are Galela, Tutu Kembong, Wonreli, and Teor Island.

The new seaports are expected to support the government's sea toll road program aimed at boosting the country's inter-island connectivity and logistics supplies to remote areas.

"Sea toll is not a road. This means there are deep sea ports and harbors in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. Moreover, there are big ships operating every day, so (goods/commodity) prices in all islands will be the same. It is a sense of justice," Jokowi had stated in 2014.

President Jokowi and the First Lady will return to Jakarta on Wednesday, (April 6).

The Red and White Bridge, to be inaugurated by the president in Ambon on April 6, is the longest in eastern Indonesia and measures 1,140 meters in length. The bridge will reduce the travel time to and from Pattimura airport, Central Maluku District. (WDY)