President Jokowi promises to not disregard local regions

Jakarta (Antaranews Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has vowed to not disregard regions and stay committed to realizing equitable development across all Indonesian regions through a nation-centric concept.

Jokowi conveyed his promise while delivering a speech at the 2018 National Coordination Meeting of Volunteers of President Jokowi at the Tilangga Auditorium in Rote District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Monday.

Deputy Secretary of Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin stated that in the last three years of Jokowi's leadership, regional development was intensively conducted from the border areas to the frontier, outermost, and remote regions in Indonesia. It was in line with the government's nine-point development agenda to make Indonesia a developed country through nation-centric development.

"We not only develop Java and Sumatra but also all regions in Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke and from Miangas to Rote Island," Jokowi stated.

In addition, the president actively undertook working visits to regions, including the frontier, outermost, and remote areas.

"There is no area that is overlooked, disregarded, and discriminated against, because all regions belong to Mother Earth," he emphasized.

Jokowi became the first Indonesian president to visit Rote Island.

"By setting foot on the Island of Rote, I have completely visiting the most outermost areas in the country," he affirmed.

During his visit, Jokowi elaborated on some programs of the Indonesian government, including the one-price fuel program in all regions of Indonesia, eradication of illegal fishing, return of the Mahakam block, and negotiations with PT Freeport that are still ongoing.

The president expressed belief that with the vast potential of natural and human resources, Indonesia will become a developed, fair, and prosperous country.

Hence, Jokowi is optimistic that the meeting would bring about a positive change for the development of Indonesia.

"I believe that all volunteers will become pioneers in the path of change towards a developed Indonesian country," he stated.

Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of Public Works and People's Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agriculture and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Chief of the Presidential Staff Teten Masduki, and East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya. (WDY)