The term strategic means it is strategic for defence and security as well as an entry gate for domestic and overseas arrivals."Miangas (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Wednesday inaugurated Miangas airport, which is located on North Sulawesis outermost island Miangas, as well as two airport terminals in Central Sulawesi.
Widodo headed to Miangas in Talaud district from Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, on air force helicopter CN-295.
"We wish to build (all of) Indonesia, including the outlying and border regions, not only Java and Sumatra. We wish to make the outer regions Indonesias verandahs, not backyards," he said.
Outlying islands such as Miangas will receive attention and continue to be developed, he said. "We will no longer see Miangas as one small island among the 17,000 islands owned by the country, but as Indonesias strategic outermost region," the president said.
"The term strategic means it is strategic for defence and security as well as an entry gate for domestic and overseas arrivals," he said.
An island on the northernmost Indonesian territory, Miangas is only 48 sea miles from the Philippines, though it is 129 sea miles from Meonguange, the capital of Talaud district, and 227 sea miles from Manado.
"Miangas is very close to our neighbour, the Philippines. We will show them that we care for and build Indonesias verandah well and are proud of it," Jokowi said.
The president also inaugurated the passenger terminal at Tanjung Api airport in Tojo Una-Una and the passenger terminal at Kasiguncu Poso airport in Central Sulawesi.
(Reported by Joko Susilo/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
