"Good roads will make villages more accessible, thereby facilitating tourists to visit them and providing villagers with more business opportunities," the minister said in Jakarta on Monday.
Minister Iskandar made the statement while receiving a visit from Agas Andreas, the head of East Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
He emphasized that roads are essential for stimulating economic growth, both at the regional and national levels.
He said good and reliable roads constitute vital infrastructure that can connect various kinds of economic and social activities, adding that such connectors can help farmers and villagers transport their merchandise more efficiently and provide more people with access to educational and health services.
The minister then asked Andreas to map which regions in his district require assistance from the central government in constructing roads.
"Please, you can simply map them (the regions) out in detail. We will coordinate (the mapping result) with the PUPR (Public Works and Public Housing) Ministry," he told the East Manggarai district leader.
He then reiterated that the central government is striving to realize equitable development in villages scattered in Indonesia's eastern regions in the hopes of narrowing economic and social gaps.
The efforts align with the 2020–2024 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), he explained.
Iskandar said the central government has formulated specific micro-development strategies to help the regions while conforming with their respective characters and cultures, as well as the challenges they are facing.
"It should be noted that eastern Indonesia has become the government's main priority. We can say that our eyes are glued to the development there," he added.
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Translator: Zubi M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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