Jakarta – The government is intensifying its efforts to develop new autonomous regions, with a particular focus on establishing a functioning government center in Papua Pegunungan.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), emphasized the importance of creating a robust foundation for governance and economic growth in the region during a recent closed-door meeting.
Held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the meeting included Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait, and Acting Governor of Papua Pegunungan Velix Vernando Wanggai.
“This evening, we are focused on Papua Pegunungan,” said AHY. “We listened to the aspirations and input from local officials, including the Governor and several regents.
Our goal is to ensure that this newly designated autonomous region can establish a fully operational government center that functions efficiently.
Additionally, we aim to stimulate the local economy, enabling the people of Papua Pegunungan to experience justice and prosperity firsthand.”
AHY highlighted the importance of a multifaceted approach, noting that development must address technical, political, security, and cultural considerations to ensure lasting progress.
“We must approach this matter prudently, looking beyond the technical aspects of construction to include political, security, legal, and cultural elements. We discussed these issues in depth and will follow up with the necessary steps,” he explained.
One pressing challenge in Papua Pegunungan is the high cost of building materials, which significantly hampers infrastructure projects.
A single sack of cement, for instance, can cost as much as IDR 800,000 in Papua Pegunungan, compared to IDR 80,000 in other regions—up to a tenfold difference that makes construction prohibitively expensive. AHY stressed the importance of addressing logistical issues to reduce material costs and enable development.
“Connecting Papua more effectively is crucial not only for mobility but also to make logistics affordable. High costs in logistics have made infrastructure development in Papua Pegunungan incredibly costly,” AHY added. “Affordable housing for residents is essential, so we need solutions for issues related to land, funding, permits, and reducing construction material costs.”
Additionally, Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman reassured the public that there would be no population transfers from other regions to Papua Pegunungan. Addressing rumors of a large-scale migration plan, he stated, “There is no population relocation from outside Papua to Papua through the transmigration program. I want to emphasize that there is no truth to claims of a massive exodus to Papua. We ask all parties to refrain from spreading these misleading statements.”
With these development initiatives, the government aims to build a foundation for sustainable growth in Papua Pegunungan. As infrastructure projects advance, authorities hope to create a region that not only supports efficient governance but also drives local economic growth and improves the quality of life for its people.
