ACEH TO TAP TOURISM POTENTIAL THROUGH SAIL EVENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 30 (Antara) - Aceh Province is a special region of Indonesia located in northern end of Sumatra Island and is rich in natural resources of oil and gas.         However, a towering tsunami, triggered by a devastating earthquake that ruined its capital Banda Aceh and killed about 170 hundred people in late 2004, forced the province to rebuild from the scrap.         Now, Aceh is rebuilding its economy, including its tourism. As a province once wrecked by an earthquake known to the whole world, Aceh has the potential to offer its exclusive objects that attractive to tourists.         Hence, the regional government of Aceh is making preparations to organize an international sail event as a means of exhibiting and marketing its tourism potential to the world tourists.         The sail event which is part of the national annual event of 'Sail Indonesia', is called 'Sail Sabang' as it will focus in Sabang Island of the province.         The local government is now making preparations to organize the Sail Sabang event which will take place from November 28 to December 2017. It is expected that more than 100 yachts from different countries will take part in the international yacht rally.

CEILING PRICE OF RICE SET TO PROTECT CONSUMERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 30 (Antara) - As a staple food of the country, rice is very important for Indonesia, which has a population of over 257 million. Its price stability therefore needs to be maintained.          To maintain price stability, the government has fixed a rice ceiling price (HET). The ceiling is set for medium and premium quality of rice to prevent its price from soaring or being taken advantage of by middlemen or traders who hoard the commodity for excessive gains.         With the HET, traders are not allowed to sell rice higher than the ceiling price. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the authority would impose sanctions against rice traders who set medium and premium quality rice price higher than its ceiling price.          "There will be monitoring and sanctions and, at least, revocation of the license for those who sell rice above the ceiling price," Kalla stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (Aug 29).          The government has formulated sanctions against traders who violate the regulation while waiting for the imposition of rice ceiling price on Sept 1.          According to Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, the imposition of ceiling price of rice constitutes the government's real effort to protect the interests of consumers. "The imposition of the ceiling price will benefit the people or the customers as they can get rice at a controlled price. So, price control is effective," said the trade minister at the Presidential Palace Complex on Monday (Aug 28).

INDONESIA POISED TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT IN SALT IN 2019

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 30 (Antara) - Salt is one of the commodities still imported by Indonesia, though the country has the potential to produce and meet its own annual domestic demand of some four million tons.          Indonesia was able to become self-sufficient in salt production for a period of four years from 2012 to 2015, but due to weather anomalies, it has been importing the commodity again.          Last year, for instance, domestic salt production of just 144 thousand tons accounted for a meager four percent of its target of three million tons.          Data from the state-owned salt company PT Garam revealed that the national demand for salt has reached 4.04 million tons per annum comprising 1.3 million tons of consumer salt and 2.74 million tons of industrial salt.          Of the salt imported for the industry, 2.14 million tons was for the chemical industry, one thousand tons for pharmacies, and 40 thousand tons for oil mining.         Hence, the government is determined to regain its earlier position of being self-sufficient in salt production.

GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE FISHERMEN'S UNFRIENDLY FISHING TOOLS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 28 (Antara) - The government, through the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), will replace fishermen's environment-unfriendly fishing tools, such as trawls and seine nets, with friendly ones.        For this purpose, the KKP is collecting data on fishermen who will receive assistance from the government to replace their fishing tools.        "We are making an inventory of fishermen recipients. We have time to collect data on them until Dec 2017. Their fishing equipment must be replaced with environment-friendly ones," Saifuddin, director for licensing and fishing affairs of the KKP, said in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Sunday.         The government is providing fishing tool replacement assistance for fishermen with fishing boats of 10 gross tonnage (10 GT) and lower. But the KKP accords priority to those with vessels of 5GT and lower.         Actually, on the national scale, there are not many regions where fishermen use unfriendly fishing tools. Among the regions are Central Java, Lampung, and West Kalimantan. The replacement of their tools will not be done all at once, but in stages.

GOVERNMENT ASKED TO CONCRETIZE FREEPORT'S DIVESTMENT PLAN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 26 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been asked to concretize its plan to divest 51 percent of US-based gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (FP) stake by assigning a state company to take over the divested shares.          The Indonesian government is still negotiating several issues, including the divestment of the 51 percent shares with FP, whose mining operation contract will expire in 2021. The government has stressed that FP will be allowed to extend its mining operation permit if it divests 51 percent of its shares to the Indonesian government.          "I agree with the government's step to take over 51 percent of FP stake. Therefore, we call on the government to take a concrete step regarding the divestment," Legislator Ahmad M Ali of Commission VII on energy affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) stated in Jakarta on Thursday (Aug 24).          Hence, the lawmaker, who is a politician of the National Democrat Party (NasDem), asked the government to concretize its proposal on the divestment of Freeport by assigning a state-owned enterprise (SOE), including the payment system and legal instrument.

GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO LOWER CEMENT PRICES IN PAPUA

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 24 (Antara) - The prices of commodities are exceptionally high in Papua Province compared to the other regions in the country due to constraints in transportation.          One of the commodities in the province whose price has skyrocketed and has reached one to two million per sack is cement.          In order to solve the high price disparity, the government is currently boosting road infrastructure and port development while launching an integrated air and sea toll routes that would facilitate cargo and human transportation in Papua.          The government, through Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE), Rini Soemarno, has promised to take efforts to cut the disparity of cement prices in Papua.          "I promise that I would try to further lower the price of cement so that it can be made affordable to the people in the two districts of Puncak Jaya and Jayawijaya, the mountainous region in Papua. Hopefully, one day, the price in the mountainous and coastal areas will both be the same, "Soemarno stated in Timika on Wednesday.

INDONESIA, VIETNAM ENHANCE BILATERAL TIES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 24 (Antara) - Indonesia and Vietnam, the two neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, continue to increase bilateral ties in various fields, such as trade, investment, and other economic and social sectors.              "Our relations with Vietnam are not new. We have established friendly relations since the past 60 years. In 2013, we had set up a strategic partnership," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated in connection with the current visit of a Vietnamese top leader.              In order to further intensify bilateral ties, Secretary General of Vietnam's Socialist Party Nguyen Phu Trong is on a three-day visit to Indonesia on Aug 22-24. He was welcomed in a ceremony led by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Jakarta on Wednesday.              Minister Marsudi noted that Trong is visiting Indonesia to increase cooperation, particularly in the business sector. Indonesia views huge business potential between the two countries.              According to Marsudi, Indonesia's trade with Vietnam has shown rapid growth. Cars are one of the biggest imports of the socialist country from Indonesia.              "Our exports of completely built-up (CBU) cars to Vietnam are the biggest. Hence, Vietnam's biggest car imports came from Indonesia," Marsudi said after accompanying President Jokowi to receive Trong at the Merdeka Palace.

FREEPORT AGREES TO DIVEST 51 PERCENT STAKE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 18 (Antara) - PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) has agreed to divest 51 percent of its shares to the Indonesian government as one of the conditions it has to meet in extending its work permit to operate in Indonesia.          PT FI, the US-based gold and copper mining company, will end its contract in 2021 and is seeking to extend it until 2041, but based on regulation, the contract can only be extended for another 10-year period or reviewed in every decade.          However, according to Coordinating Minister for the Ministry of Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the contract can be made for a period of 20 years until 2041, if PT FI divests 51 percent of its shares.          "Virtually, there is no problem if PT Freeport Indonesia wants to review its contract until 2041 on the condition that it is prepared to divest 51 percent of its stake to the Indonesian government," Pandjaitan noted on August 14, 2017.          The Indonesian government signed its first work contract with Freeport McMoran Inc on April 7, 1967, with exclusive mining rights on a 100 square-kilometer tract in Ertsberg, Papua. The work contract was extended in 1991 and would expire in 2021.

AIR TOLL ROUTE PROGRAM CUTS PRICES OF GOODS IN PAPUA

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 17 (Antara) - The government has launched an integrated sea and air toll road program to enable smooth delivery of goods to Papua's remote areas and to cut the high price disparities with those in other regions of the country.          In order to reach mountainous and remote areas in Papua, the people had so far used pioneer flight transportation with subsidized tickets. However, this has no impact on goods whose prices have high disparities with other regions due to transportation constraints.          Hence, the government has launched an integrated air and sea toll road program. Through the Ministry of Transportation, the government this year earmarked a subsidy fund of Rp21 billion to make the air toll road program a success.         The program has shown a positive impact, particularly in the price of cement. Residents in the mountainous areas of Papua will now be able to purchase cement at a price far lower than the previous price. In Puncak Jaya District, for example, the price per 50 kilogram of a sack of cement has dropped from between Rp1 million and Rp2 million to only Rp500 thousand.          The new price was effective from Aug 11, 2017. Besides, in Puncak Jaya, the price is also effective in six other districts of Jayawijaya, Tolikara, Lanny Jaya, Nduga, Yalimo, and Central Mamberamo.

GOVERNMENT RELIES ON CONSUMPTION FOR GROWTH

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 17 (Antara) - In line with its forecast of improved household consumption, investment, and export performance in 2018, the government has set a 5.4 percent economic growth target, slightly higher than its 2017 target of 5.2 percent.          If the government is able to maintain household consumption and investment performance, it will be able to achieve its economic growth target of 5.4 percent in 2018.          "As far as household consumption and an upward trend in investment could be maintained, the 5.4 percent growth target could be achieved," legislator Andreas Eddy Susetyo noted.          Susetyo of the financial Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) had remarked on Wednesday that the important aspect is the improving trend that serves as a momentum for the government to set the growth target.          The legislator was referring to the economic growth target of 5.4 percent set by the government in its 2018 Draft State Budget (RAPBN 2018), which was delivered by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during the DPR Plenary Session at the Parliament building in Jakarta on Wednesday.      In his speech, Jokowi said the government has optimistically set the economic growth target at 5.4 percent in the RAPBN 2018 based on increased public consumption, investment, and export/import performance.

GETTING COMPETITIVE EDGE THROUGH FISH CONSUMPTION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 15 (Antara) - In order to be able to compete globally in all sectors, a country should have human resources of good quality.          In the current globalized world, Indonesia should develop its human resources. It should prepare its younger generation to face increasingly stiff competition in the future.          As a maritime country, Indonesia is also rich in fish potentials, which could provide adequate protein and help increase the quality of its human resources.          Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Susi Pudjiastuti stated that the increase in fish consumption level will improve the quality of the nation's human resources, in order to help Indonesia face the globalization era.          Pudjiastuti, in a written statement received in Jakarta on Monday, noted that the Indonesian people should eat healthy foods which are rich in protein, in order to be competitive in the era of globalization.         "This is to produce competitive human resources. It should not happen that Indonesia, which is a big county, lacks good quality human resources," the minister remarked.          Based on the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry data, the current national per capita fish consumption is about 43.34 kilograms per year, or an increase from the figure of 36 kilograms per capita per year in 2016.

GOVT CONTINUES TO PROMOTE LOCAL FRUITS

 

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 13 (Antara) -  The Car-Free Day  on Thamrin Street in Central Jakarta's business and office district was a special day on Sunday, Aug 13, when it also served as a 'free fruit day' for local fruit lovers.          The appetite of joggers, bikers and other Jakartans who took morning walks on the Thamrin street was therefore arouse when they were offered to taste different local fruits for free such as mango, papaya and durian.         Jakarta residents and other visitors to Thamrin were able to taste different Indonesian local fruits for free as Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman during the Car-Free-Day on Sunday launched  a one-day 'love local fruit' campaign in the area.           "Loving local products is the same as loving (the country's) Red and White (flag), loving the people, loving the country and loving the farmers," he said.          Amran called on the people to consume local fruits. Local fruits taste delicious. There are abundant local fruits. Consuming them will benefit the local farmers. Among the local fruits which were promoted and offered for free to the people were banana, salak (snakeskin fruit), orange,  Balinese orange, mango and durian.

GOVERNMENT MUST GO ALL OUT TO ACHIEVE GROWTH TARGET

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 10 (Antara) - The government must work harder to spur the country's economic activities in order to achieve its economic growth target set for this year at 5.2 percent.          The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has revealed that economic growth in the second quarter of 2017 was recorded at 5.01 percent, which is relatively stagnant as compared to that in the first quarter of 2017.          "The 5.2 percent growth target is difficult to achieve, considering the economic growth in the second quarter,¿ Economist Abra Talattov of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) said in a statement on Monday (Aug 7) based on the BPS data.           Hence, the Indonesian central bank (Bank Indonesia/BI) warned of potential risk that could hinder the prospect of economic growth for the second semester of 2017, especially with domestic demand that is yet to recover.          "This is related to domestic demand that is yet to be strengthened with the continued reconciliation process of corporate and banking," BI's executive director for communication department Agusman said in a statement.          According to BI, the economic growth in the second quarter of 2017 at 5.01 percent (year on year) has reflected a continued process of economic recovery but was still below expectation.

GRID CONNECTIONS PROVIDE CHEAPER GAS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 10 (Antara) - The government has been successful in carrying out its kerosene-to-gas conversion programs launched for household consumers over the past few years.          Households now use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in different cylinder sizes. For economically weak households, subsidized LPG in 3-kilogram cylinders is available, while other households have non-subsidized LPG 12-kilogram cylinders.           In addition, the government has since 2009 launched a relatively cheaper gas program in gas grid connections for households, but the number of consumers who obtained the connections was still very small. In the period between 2009 and 2016, only some 185,991 household consumers were connected to the gas grid program.          Therefore, the government is determined to expand the networks of its gas connections for household consumers this year. After all, consumers who obtain gas through the network connections can receive gas at a cheaper price.          "The people can save as much as Rp90 thousand per month, as they use the gas for household purposes. When people use the 3-kilogram subsidized LPG in cylinders, they will spend Rp130 thousand per month," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said in a written statement on Saturday (Aug 5).

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGY-BASED POWER PLANTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 9 (Antara) - The government continues to build power plants in a bid to provide adequate electricity to consumers while avoiding the use of conventional or fossil-based resources that are depleting.          Hence, the government is making efforts to use new and renewable forms of energy to generate electricity since their use will help the country achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction and energy mix targets.          To this end, the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry has called on partner companies to develop new and renewable energy-based power plants. According to ESDM Minister Ignasius Jonan, a total of 53 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have agreed to develop new and renewable energy-based power plants.          The ESDM Ministry has planned to develop 64 new and renewable energy-based power plants, with a total capacity of 400 megawatts (MW).          The new and renewable energy-based power plants will be built in the islands of Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara, among others. The plants are being developed to use sources of energy, such as micro-hydro, biomass, and solar power.

KRAKATAU FESTIVAL PROMOTES LAMPUNG TOURISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 8 (Antara) - The Indonesian province of Lampung in the southern tip of Sumatra Island will organize the "Lampung Krakatau Festival (LKF) 2017" on Aug 25-27 to promote its tourism.         The festival takes the name "Krakatau," or Krakatoa, as a popular brand to make the event more attractive since Krakatau is a volcanic island situated in Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Krakatau has attracted global attention when it had erupted in 1883.         The name is also used for the surrounding island group comprising the remnants of a much larger island of three volcanic peaks obliterated in a cataclysmic 1883 eruption that unleashed huge tsunamis, killing more than 36 thousand people and destroying over two-thirds of the island.         Lampung is the original home of the Lampung people, who speak their own language and have their own script. Its capital is Bandar Lampung. The province had a population of about 9.5 million. Three-quarters of the current population of Lampung are the descents of migrants from Java, Madura, and Bali, according to Wikipedia.

FISHERIES CENTERS BUILT TO IMPROVE FISHERMEN'S WELFARE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 8 (Antara) - Indonesian fishermen are among the country's underprivileged population, although they have the vital role in providing the people's need for high protein, especially from fish.          To improve the welfare of fishermen, the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) is focusing its attention on developing Integrated Fisheries and Marine Centers (SKPT) in the country's outlaying islands.          The development of the SKPTs is expected to advance the country's fishery industry in the outer and isolated islands with the aim of providing equitable distribution of income and improving the welfare of fishermen.          Besides, the development of integrated fisheries and marine centers will also increase public services to business makers  and the people so that the fisheries business would become more efficient and effective.          KKP Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has stressed the importance of the SKPT as part of the government's efforts to reduce logistics burdens or costs in the maritime and fisheries sector.         "The establishment of the SKPT is to cut short processes, transportation lines and the logistics of fishermen's fish catch," Minister Pudjiastuti said during the signing of a cooperation agreement with state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina on Monday (July 31).

THOUSANDS OF VISITORS THRONG DIENG FESTIVAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 6 (Antara) - Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to a three-day cultural festival held to promote the tourist resort of Dieng Plateau in the districts of Banjarnegara and Wonosobo, Central Java, from Aug 4 to 6, 2017.         Dubbed as the ' Dieng Cultural Festival 2017' (DCF 2017),  the annual event presented attractive agenda that provided unforgettable experience for tourists and other visitors.         The organizers, among others, included in their agenda a mountain top sunrise watch, a lampion or lantern release festival, a painting festival on 'caping gunung' traditional cone-shaped hats,  and a dreadlock saving ritual.         The Dieng Plateau, which keeps high cultural values, local wisdom and historical significance, is one of most popular nature tourist  destinations in Central Java.          Hence, as the local government has developed it as a tourist resort, the Dieng Plateau has attracted domestic and foreign tourists. To further promote it as a tourist resort, the local government has regularly organized the annual cultural festival.          Dieng Plateau is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a caldera complex on the Dieng Volcanic Complex, which is located within the districts of Banjarnegara and Wonosobo in Central Java.

ONLINE SHOPPING A THREAT TO RETAILERS?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 5 (Antara) - Online trading system or e-commerce is growing rapidly in recent years as it offers a special service for consumers to shop or order goods through online media.         But how far online business affects retail business still needs further study. Head of National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro has expressed the need to officially register online trading transactions.         Data on online trading transactions is needed to know their impact on the economic growth, especially at a time when the retail business sector is facing a gloomy condition amid efforts to improve the macroeconomic indicators.         There are mixed views that the growth of online shopping is posing a threat to the retail business, but some say it would not have a serious impact on retailers as long as the latter continue to make innovations.          According to macroeconomist Dr James Adam of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the online trading transactions, which are gaining a popular trend in recent days, is threatening workers at retailer businesses, which are still relying on the conventional shopping system.

MINISTRY TO BOOST GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 4 (Antara) - The Indonesian government will continue to explore sources of energy to achieve its targets for the new and renewable energy program, reduction of gas emissions and energy mix use.          One of the potential energy sources that can be developed to achieve the gas emissions and energy mix targets is geothermal, whose utilization continues to be encouraged by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM).          The development of geothermal is part of the government's efforts to build new and renewable energy from geothermal power plants. This reflects the commitment made by the government during the COP 21 in Paris, December 2015.          "We will make efforts to reach the energy mix target of 23 percent in 2025 from new and renewable energy sources. This is not easy because until now, we have only achieved about 8-9 percent. Probably in 2019, we can achieve 12-13 percent. However, to achieve this target, we need to make extraordinary struggles," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan stated in Jakarta, Wednesday.          Geothermal can be expected to contribute greatly toward Indonesia's electricity development. "Currently, geothermal electricity generating plants (PLTP) which have been in the commercial operation date (COD) or on stream, account for approximately 1,700 megawatts (MW). This is still small compared to the fact that Indonesia has large energy potentials, which reach 29,000MW. We will do our best to speed it up," Jonan said.

PLAN TO USE HAJJ FUND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 4 (Antara) - The Religious Affairs Ministry has, so far, managed funds deposited or invested in sukuk by would-be Hajj pilgrims, and the profit obtained from them has enabled the government to offer subsidies to pilgrims.          According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a Hajj pilgrimage trip currently costs Rp68 million for each pilgrim, but using the profits obtained from managing the Hajj fund, the government provides a 50 percent subsidy, so that a prospective Hajj pilgrim is only required to pay Rp34 million as pilgrimage cost.          The total amount of Hajj fund being managed currently reaches Rp99.34 trillion. The government is planning to invest the fund in the more profitable infrastructure sector.          Coordinating Minister for Economy Darmin Nasution stated that the profit is higher if the Hajj pilgrimage fund is invested in infrastructure projects rather than in other sectors. The interest could be as high as 12-13 percent if the Hajj pilgrimage fund is invested in infrastructure projects, Nasution noted after attending an economic meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday (Aug 1).          "Hajj pilgrimage fund is a long-term fund. If it was invested as a deposit in a bank, the interest is only around five-six percent a year. The profit would be much higher if it were to be invested in infrastructure projects," he added.

DIENG PROMOTES TOURISM THROUGH CULTURAL FESTIVAL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 3 (Antara) - The Dieng Plateau, which is a popular tourist resort in Central Java, is organizing its annual event 'Dieng Culture Festival (DCF) VIII' 2017 in an effort to further promote its tourism.          Dieng Plateau is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a caldera complex on the Dieng Volcanic Complex, which is located within the districts of Banjarnegara and Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia.          The regional government of Banjarnegara District assured that at least 15 kings and queens across the country will attend the DCF 2017, which will last from Aug 4 to 6, 2017.           Referred to as 'Dieng' by Indonesians, it sits at 2 thousand meters (6.6 thousand feet) above sea level, far from major population centers. The name 'Dieng' comes from Di Hyang, which means 'Abode of the Gods.' According to Wikipedia, part of General Sudirman's guerrilla campaign, during the Indonesian War of Independence, took place in the area.          Head of Banjarnegara Tourism Service Dwi Suryanto told Liputan6.com on Monday (June 31) that the kings as well as kings' envoys will arrive during the run-up to the peak of the DCF on Aug 5 when the hair-cut ritual is to be performed on nine dreadlocks of the Dieng.

CONNECTIVITY MAIN KEY TO PAPUA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 1 (Antara) - Provinces in eastern Indonesia, such as Papua and West Papua, are relatively lagging behind those in the western part of the country, resulting in the government to accord priority to the development in Papua.          One of the development strategies that President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) government is carrying out in Papua is accelerating the development of infrastructure, including roads, in order to develop connectivity to isolated regions that could spur the growth of the local economy.          In developing connectivity, the government is also accelerating the realization of the sea toll project that connects Surabaya in East Java to Papua.          The construction of Trans-Papua Road last year, for example, has received a budget allocation of Rp2.15 trillion, consisting of Rp739 billion for the maintenance of 1,719.46 kilometer roads, Rp834.8 billion for the construction of 151.34 kilometer new roads, and Rp579.4 billion for the construction of bridges.          The projects are part of the Trans-Papua Highway that connect Papua and West Papua. Construction of the 4,330-kilometer Trans-Papua Highway in Indonesia's easternmost and mineral-rich provinces of Papua and West Papua will offer greater connectivity and is expected to boost economic activities in the regions.