Two residents from Jayapura pass through the passport inspection desk at the Skouw Yoppy Kalakmabin state border post in Jayapura, Papua, on Monday (8/5). The border post, located on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border, was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (9/5).
JAYAPURA, KOMPAS -The government has pledged to further speed up the development of border areas that serve as the verandas of the country. With the development, border areas are expected to become centers of new economic growth.
Speaking in his address during the inauguration of the Integrated Border Check Point (PLBN) between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in Kampung Skouw, Muara Tami district, Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said the development of border areas should be able to create new pockets of economic growth.
The President said the government would further build checkpoints not only for immigration activities, but also to build up the pride of the Indonesian nation. From the beginning, the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla administration has considered border areas as Indonesia\'s foremost porch.
The development of border areas is also carried out to create new centers of economic growth, Jokowi added. Therefore, in Skouw, an area bordering Papua New Guinea, the government is also building markets. The President instructed that the market development within the check point be completed no later than next year.
"I ask for more kiosks in the market for the local people,” said Jokowi. Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the market, which occupies an area of 3,600 square meters, will have 400 kiosks. In line with the President\'s instructions, the ministry will increase the number of kiosks.
Increase exports
With the market, the President expects exports from Indonesia, especially from Papua to Papua New Guinea, will be increased. Moreover, commodities from Indonesia, especially Papua, will be more competitive because the prices are lower than those in Papua New Guinea.
"I\'ve been to Port Moresby. The prices of basic commodities there are much more expensive than the prices here. It\'s an opportunity for us to export our commodities there," he added.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe explained that trading activities at the border area in Skouw had delivered a positive contribution to the local economy. Throughout 2016, for example, 166,000 people from Papua New Guinea visited Papua, most of whom visited for shopping purposes.
Total trade transactions reached Rp 25.8 billion. Given the large potential of border areas, Lukas also asked the central government to build more PLBN border check points in four other districts directly adjacent to Papua New Guinea, namely Keerom, Pegunungan Bintang, Merauke, and Boven Digoel.
The head of the Papua Legislative Council, Yunus Wonda, appreciates President Jokowi\'s policy of building more PLBN border checkpoints in Papua.
"The presence of the PLBN check point in Skouw indicates the seriousness of the central government’s efforts to improve the welfare of the people of Papua. The breakthrough made by the President has delivered a direct impact to our life here," Yunus said.
The government has opened seven PLBN border check points. Three of them are in West Kalimantan, three in East Nusa Tenggara and one in Papua. However, of the seven border check points, only five have been inaugurated, namely Entikong, Badau, Aruk, Motamasin and Skouw.
