Are roads necessary? Are ports necessary? Are airports necessary? They all are necessary.Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) drew attention to the importance of infrastructure foundation built by the government within and outside Java over the course of the past eight years.
"Are roads necessary? Are ports necessary? Are airports necessary? They all are necessary," the head of state noted while addressing thousands of his supporters during a gathering called "United Nusantara" organized by Jokowi's Volunteers at the Gelorang Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, here on Saturday.
Jokowi said the government has built several infrastructures since he took office nearly eight years ago.
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The infrastructures include national roads, toll roads, bridges, airports, and small roads built across the country using village funds. All government-built infrastructures are found not only in Java but also outside Java, he remarked.
"That is what we call infrastructure foundation," he remarked.
The president highlighted the significance of infrastructure development. All the infrastructures were built to enable the country to compete with other nations.
"It is impossible for us to compete with other nations if our roads are muddy," he pointed out.
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He said the infrastructures help the community, without exception, in conducting economic activities. For instance, roads built to connect one region to another help farmers to sell their commodities.
"The people are given facilities. Farmers in villages can sell thrice, and fishermen can sell fish to cities, thanks to the infrastructures," he stated.
On a larger scale, the products of micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs from various parts of the country can be exported owing to the ports and airports, he remarked.
He said toll roads in Java have connected cities and districts from the west to the east, except Banyuwangi District. However, the government is striving to build a toll road that will connect the eastern tip of Java to the rest of the island.
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Translator: M Zulfikar/Melalusa SK, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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