"Connectivity between regions, be it a district, province, or island, is very important. Great connectivity can speed up the mobility of people and goods. It can also open up isolation," he said during the inauguration of the Ewer Airport Terminal on Thursday as broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel.
He noted that Ewer Airport has, so far, served flights from Timika twice a week, flights from Kamur four times a week, and flights from Merauke four times a week.
The president is upbeat that Ewer Airport would also open tourism in Asmat and provide a multiplier effect for the economy in South Papua.
On the same occasion, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the construction and development of transportation infrastructure in Asmat District showed the government's commitment to equitable distribution of development across Indonesia, especially in South Papua.
He said that the government also built a passenger terminal at Ewer Airport having a touch of minimalist architecture, with ornaments and interiors inspired by Asmat culture.
"Like the installation of a miniature Asmat boat that is not just a means of transportation but also a philosophy of life and death for the Asmat tribe," Sumadi explained.
He said that Ewer Airport has been developed from 2018 to 2022, with a total budget of Rp287 billion using the state budget.
The Ewer Airport has a runway sized 1,650 m x 30 m to accommodate ATR72-600 type aircraft. Meanwhile, the passenger terminal, measuring 488 square meters, can accommodate up to 14 thousand passengers per year, Sumadi noted.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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