Papua- Papua has always had a special place in President Joko Widodo’s heart. Since taking office in 2014, Jokowi has often echoed his vision of Indonesia-centric, as part of Nawacita, which clearly prioritizes development from the periphery, including Papua.
It is no wonder that in the last ten years, Jokowi has visited Bumi Cenderawasih 18 times, making him the president with the most visits to the region.
President Jokowi’s love for Papua was likened by Special Staff Billy Mambrasar to the love of a lover. This is reflected in the commitment to development that continues to be encouraged, starting from infrastructure such as the Trans Papua Road to the One Price Fuel program that reduces the gap in fuel costs in remote areas of Papua.
Although still facing major challenges, such as economic and social inequality, development in Papua has shown significant achievements in economic growth, infrastructure, to education and health.
However, this journey is not over yet. The challenge for future leaders is to continue and perfect Jokowi’s steps to ensure that Papua truly becomes an inseparable part of an advanced Indonesia.
