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Director of Bappenas' Backward, Transmigration and Rural Areas Velix Vernando Wanggai (ANTARA)

The National Development Planning Ministry/the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has drafted a seven-point strategic policy, with focus on boosting development in the provinces of Papua and West Papua. "The seven-point policy to expedite development of Papua and West Papua has been incorporated into the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2020-2024," Director of Bappenas' Backward, Transmigration and Rural Areas Velix Vernando Wanggai stated on the sidelines of a forum for consultations on Saereri customary land in Biak, Papua, on Monday.

In the national medium-term development plan, Bappenas achieved novel breakthroughs to advance development in the two provinces.

He was optimistic that through the seven-point development policy, Papua and West Papua would be able to soon cater to the needs of a variety of local people.

Through the seven-point policy, the government targets, firstly; to develop Papua’s economy in favor of the tourism, fishery, plantation, and production sectors; secondly, to develop tourism, industrial, and rural areas; and thirdly, to develop Papua and West Papua in the context of national human resources.

The development of the two provinces' human resources must be centered on fulfilling the local people's educational requirements, he stated.

"The development of Papuan human resources starts from organizing vocational education, secondary education, or higher education to providing applicative training to Papua’s younger generations," he stated.

The fourth point of the policy is to develop Papua in the context of national culture since the Melanesia race, with specific cultural and physical traits, lends color to the national culture and must be incorporated into the agenda of the nation’s culture, he remarked.

The fifth point prioritizes the development of infrastructure for boosting inter-connectivity between areas through an integrated air, sea, and ferry transport system, while the sixth point aims to develop Papua and West Papua by giving due attention to the environment, climate change, and disaster mitigation.

The seventh point aims to develop Papua and West Papua in the context of politics, defense, and political services. (ANTARA)