Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Infrastructure development undertaken by the government aims to boost the economy and achieve equitable social justice, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated before members of the Islamic Students Association (HMI) here on Wednesday.

"It is necessary to prioritize the development of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, ports, and airports, as well as reservoirs and power plants to sustain our national economy in order to compete with other countries," Jokowi noted in his speech to open the 30th Congress of HMI at the Pattimura University.

The president asserted that in addition to boosting the economy, infrastructure development is also a tangible embodiment of the fifth principle of Pancasila that aims to realize social justice for all Indonesian people.

The head of state paid a visit to Ambon in Maluku Province to open the HMI Congress and to observe the construction of a labor-intensive project in Batumerah Village, Siriamau Sub-district.

In the company of Minister of Village, Regional Development, and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo as well as Governor of Maluku Said Assagaff, the president observed the activities of people involved in the restoration of the river`s function in Batumerah Village on Wednesday.

"The projects are handled by the Ministry of Villages, Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration as well as the Ministry of Public Works and People`s Housing. Several labor-intensive projects are being constructed in Ambon," Jokowi pointed out.

The president also greeted people from areas located in proximity to the project and had been waiting since morning to catch a glimpse of him.

Some people also lauded Jokowi for the Village Development Funds aimed at improving the development of basic infrastructure to boost the people`s economy.

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Reporter: SYSTEM
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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