January 11, 2024
JAKARTA – Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka has promised to open new access points and enhance connectivity in Maluku as an archipelagic region, which will create balanced development across Indonesia.
Gibran emphasized the importance of creating new economic growth centers outside Java, particularly in Maluku, during his visit to Ambon on Monday.
“We want equitable development. Opening new access, connectivity, because Maluku is an archipelago,” Gibran said in written statement from Ambon, as quoted by Antara news agency.
“We want new points of economic growth. So not only in Java.”
The Surakarta, Central Java, mayor said that investment outside Java had reached 53 percent.
He insisted that his team would pay special attention to regions that had not fully benefited from balanced development.
The oldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo referred to the National Capital City (IKN) project as a symbol of development equality, hoping that areas like Maluku would continue to thrive.
During a meeting with local customary kings, Gibran said Maluku had great potential in tourism, maritime business and natural resources.
For the maritime sector, he said he would implement fishery downstreaming.
“We no longer want to send raw materials. We want to have cannery and cold storage facilities with a large capacity, so we can store our products for a prolonged period,” Gibran said.
“In the end, fishery derivative products will solve problems in other sectors.”
He also emphasized that he and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto would pay special attention to regions that had yet to fully enjoy equitable development.
Furthermore, Gibran stressed the need to improve human resources in various regions, particularly by investing in children.
“Currently, the best investment is an investment in children. We want to implement a free lunch program,” he said.
“We do not think of this as an expenditure but an investment toward Indonesia Emas 2045 [Golden Indonesia 2045]. This opportunity comes only once and will not be repeated.
Responding to a question from one of the kings related to customary law issues, Gibran said his camp was coordinating with customary leaders.
“We are preparing several solutions, including issues related to land certification and ownership redistribution. How we will later resolve the issue of land mafias,” he said.
Gibran is taking leave of absence from his mayoral position from Monday until Wednesday for his campaign trip to Maluku and Bali.