President Jokowi Sending 24 Professors to Develop Papua`s Education, Food Sectors

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is sending 24 professors, who are working in the United States, to Papua to assist in developing the region, especially its education and food sectors.

"I have urged 24 professors to strengthen the education sector in Papua and to build vocational schools," the president noted in a welcome speech at a hospitality event held in the State Palace in Jakarta, Thursday.

President Jokowi remarked that the 24 professors were part of the 74 Indonesians working in the United States as professors.

The plan to build vocational schools is still being discussed with the Cenderawasih University and the University of Papua.

Furthermore, the professors will be urged to develop a rice research center in Merauke, Papua.

"Not only the 24 professors but I would also like to get all 74 of them involved," he noted.

The president emphasized that it was time for the nation to give due recognition to talented individuals, who are willing to work hard and do not create a ruckus.

The head of state believes there could be more than 74 Indonesians, who now reside in the United States, as they had obtained their doctorate degree and were working there.

"They are all very talented and excel in their respective fields. The recorded figure in the United States is 74, and it does not include those in Japan, Korea, and Germany. There could be hundreds of them out there," he reiterated.

President Jokowi also affirmed that the large number of Indonesians working overseas could have been employed in the country.

"In the United States, for instance, there are hundreds of Indonesian employees engaged in the center of the information technology industry, Silicon Valley," he remarked.

Hence, the president has called on Indonesian nationals working overseas to harbor aspirations to return to the country and work here.

The president expressed keenness to retain talented Indonesians in the country instead of them moving to other countries or choosing to work overseas.

President Jokowi welcomed hundreds of talented individuals from all over the country at the State Palace. Apart from holding a dialog, he also invited them for a luncheon.

They were also invited to attend the ceremony to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the countrys independence in the State Palace, Jakarta.

Among the guests were teachers, lecturers, doctors, science Olympiad winners, and athletes. (WDY)