The program to improve the ten tourism destinations is one such example."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged ministries to integrate and coordinate with each other while implementing several development programs to achieve optimal and efficient results.

"I have urged all ministries to integrate with each other while implementing some development programs with other related parties," Jokowi stated here on Monday.

The president has called on all ministries to work in tandem rather than functioning alone in order to accomplish the national programs.

The president also called to award all development projects in regional areas to local entrepreneurs to boost the economic conditions.

"The program to improve the ten tourism destinations is one such example. When I visited Labuan Bajo, I found the runway and airport terminal were already in good condition. But, water and sanitation facilities still have to be improved," Jokowi affirmed.

Jokowi emphasized that the ministry can award development projects to local entrepreneurs who are capable of executing them.

The president explained that when the national contractor handles the project, then the secondary contractor must be a regional contractor to support the circulation of funds in the suburban areas.

He appealed to prioritize ongoing labor-intensive projects in regional areas to empower the economy of the local community.

"We are prioritizing labor-intensive projects to absorb more employees. The government believes in employment equity in the suburban areas," Jokowi noted.

He also urged every minister to directly monitor the construction work on the projects, which are under progress.

Some infrastructure projects in the regional areas that will be implemented include the Kertajati Airport in Majalengka, West Java, and the toll road in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The Kertajati Airport project in West Java will cost around Rp3.7 trillion to be paid by the central government.

Additionally, a 70-kilometer-long toll road in the South Sulawesi capital will be constructed in 2017 at a cost of around Rp20 trillion, or Rp250 billion per kilometer.

(Reported by Panca Hari Prabowo/Uu.INE/KR-BSR/A/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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