"The government has applied an integrated approach to speeding up development in Papua."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Around 135 projects under the Indonesian Economic Development Acceleration and Expansion Master Plan (MP3EI) programme have started since its launch.

"Since it was launched on May 27, 2011, up until July 2012, the MP3EI programme has made a lot of progress. The groundbreakings of 135 projects, worth a total investment of more than Rp490 trillion in infrastructure development and real sector, have already been done," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his state of the nation address before the Parliament here on Thursday, a day before the 67th anniversary of Indonesian independence.

"The MP3EI programme is necessary to narrow the existing development gap in regions, to reduce the unemployment rate, and to boost the nation`s economic growth through innovation," he added.

"The infrastructure development acceleration and expansion strategy is also crucial to avoid a middle-income trap," the head of state explained.

In the eastern Indonesian region, he stated, the government had made efforts to control prices, improve education and health services, strengthen the fishery and maritime sectors, promote the local tradition- and culture-based tourism and develop the creative economy.

"Through MP3EI, as I mentioned earlier, we plan to accelerate economic development in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua and Maluku Islands, as well as Nusa Tenggara Islands," Yudhoyono said.

The President also called for fast and proper implementation of the development acceleration programme in Papua.

"The Special Autonomy status for Papua and West Papua is in line with our aim to better manage public services and infrastructure development in these regions," he said.

"The government has applied an integrated approach to speeding up development in Papua," Yudhoyono added.

In order to ensure that the development efforts in Papua and West Papua were in line with its plan and policy, the government set up the Development Acceleration Unit for Papua and West Papua Provinces (UP4B).
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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