The three projects include Raknamo dam, border checkpoints in Wini and Motamasin.
President Jokowi said the Raknamo dam project was scheduled to be completed in five years but "after I bargained they would complete it in four years but now we see it could be completed in three years."
He expressed gratefulness over the project which costs up to Rp760 billion in state budget.
The dam which has a capacity of holding 14 million cubic meters of waters could be finished ahead of schedule as a result of hardwork of the ministry of public works, the regional governor, heads of districts and mayors of cities located around the project.
"People on Timor island certainly are happy because they have waited for it for a long time. Soon it will be filled with water," he said.
President Jokowi said that water has been the main problem faced by East Nusa Tenggara and with the completion of the project economic condition and prosperity would be expected to improve.
"Water has been the main issue. Therefore when I said that planned to build 49 dams across the country East Nusa Tenggara governor - Pak (Mr) Frans - conveyed the need to me and first we promised three but then he asked for two more and later another two and so now there are seven dam projects in East Nusa Tenggara," he said.
He said the province received the most dam projects as compared to other regions that only received one or two.
The dam projects in the islands province include Raknamo and Manikin in the district of Kupang, Rotiklot in Beli, Kolhua in Kupang city, Napunggete in Sikka and Lambo in Nagekeo.
He said the projects were the realization of the dream of the people in the province for a water source that could be used for irrigating fields and meeting needs of water as well as for electricity.
President Jokowi while in the province also inaugurated checkpoints in Wini in the district of North Central Timor and Motamasin in Malaka.
He said the development of three checkpoints (Motaain checkpoint in Belu was completed before) on the island of Timor had been done with all their grandeur. He said he had ordered them to build the checkpoints with grandeur because they are the face of the country.
He said he planned to build modern marketplaced in the border with Timor Leste so that local people could export their commodities.
"I am convinced there are a lot of products from East Nusa Tenggara that would attract the neighboring country. So we must take the opportunities well so that our exports will increase," he said.
President Jokowi took an opportunity to see the Raknamo dam before it would be filled with water. The dam is expected to be full within 18 months or two rainy seasons.
Reported by Aloysius Lewokeda
(H-YH/b003/B003)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
