JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government ensures to be ready to carry out the seven directions of President Joko Widodo, when opening the National Working Meeting of the Association of Provincial Governments of All Indonesia (Rakernas APPSI), in Balikpapan, Thursday (23/2/2023).

It was conveyed by the Daily Executive of the Governor of Papua, Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun, after attending the activity.

"The Acting Governor, in principle, remains committed to implementing the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia delivered at the National Meeting (APPSI) for a better Papua," affirmed the Head of the Communication and Informatics Department of Papua via his cell phone, this afternoon.

As known, the seven points of President Jokowi’s direction at the APPSI National Meeting, namely increasing public consumption and spending in the regions, product downstream, food availability, shopping for domestic products, improving the investment climate, reducing stunting and the future of honorary workers.

Especially for increasing consumption and spending in the regions, President Jokowi emphasized that it is the obligation of all Governors to maintain household consumption and even increase it. So, if in 2022 household consumption is at 4.93 percent, it is expected that in 2024 it can rise to 5.4 percent.

"Of course, if it increases by 5.4 percent, it will automatically trigger an increase in the economy. Therefore, matters related to public spending should not let anyone hold back. For example, art and sports events. The public spending in 2022 was held in the Bank".

"It is IDR 690 trillion of public funds in the bank are being withheld and not spent. That is, people do not want to shop, or go to restaurants, markets, malls, and others. This and the governors must encourage the public so that the expenditure can be as much as possible to trigger our economic growth," said Jokowi.

The president also asked the governors to encourage the improvement and promotion of village tourism. So there are economic transactions that improve the economy of the local people.

As for food, Jokowi asked all governors to ensure that rice production is sufficient for their respective regions. "There is a need for collaboration between governors so that if there is a province that lacks the rice it will be handled by a surplus province. Take care of supply and maintain prices," he urged. ***