"Otherwise, no matter how many district heads will manage the 21-year-old Seribu Islands (in the future), there would be no significant development," he said at Jakarta City Hall on Monday.
The inclusion of the PIK II area will bolster economic and political development in the district, he added.
The islands reclaimed for PIK II’s development fulfill all the prerequisites for inclusion in the district, he said, though he did not disclose what the prerequisites are.
The administrative district authority had forwarded its proposal for PIK II’s inclusion in the district to Jakarta acting governor Heru Budi Hartono in a letter, he informed.
"The acting governor responded (by saying) that there is indeed an urgent need to achieve equitable development (for Seribu Islands)," Junaedi said.
Accelerating economic growth in the district would bolster efforts to develop the Seribu Islands as part of the National Strategic Tourism Area (KPSN), he added.
Besides creating new jobs for residents and having a multiplier effect on the regional economy, tourism development in the Seribu Islands would also increase the district's and the province's original regional revenues, the district head noted.
According to Junaedi, after its separation from the North Jakarta Administrative City 21 years ago, the administrative district has been successful in fulfilling the basic needs of its people.
However, the current development stage is not sufficient for the region despite its inclusion in KPSN, he added.
Moreover, the inclusion of the PIK II area in the district would enhance Seribu Islands' tourism image and motivate residents to continue to work for their home district.
"We must develop a tourism concept for the Seribu Islands that has been designated as KSPN. The concept must be similar to Bali because if Bali could (develop their tourism), we can also do it," Junaedi remarked.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut SW, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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