Antara News, Sunday, November 22, 2009 19:45 WIB
Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - State Minister for Disadvantaged Regions A Helmy Faisal Zaini said the government remained committed to developing border areas into the country`s verandah.
"In 2009 alone, the government disbursed Rp40 billion to finance the development of infrastructure projects in five districts in West Kalimantan province," he said after a dialog with local officials and figures here on Sunday.
The five districts are Sambas, Bengkayang, Sanggau, Sintang and Kapuas Hulu.
The minister said to speed up the development of border areas, the government will also encourage private companies to invest in the regions.
He proposed that the heads of the five districts form a caucus so that they can well coordinate their efforts to speed up the development of border areas.
To make border areas more progressive, the development of disadvantaged regions will focus on strengthening local administrations, boosting local economies, empowering local people, and intensifying the development of infrastructure facilities such as roads, he said.
Earlier, after paying a working visit to Aruk close to the Indonesia-Malaysia border, the minister also launched an integrated village development program as part of effort to promote backward villages.
The program is aimed at boosting rural economy by building supporting facilities, such as rural markets, information stalls and agribusiness, he said.
The program is related to a change in the development paradigm of disadvantaged regions from area-based to village-based, he said.
The change in the paradigm is expected to speed up efforts to promote up to 50 backward districts per year, he said.
To support the program, he said his office has been coordinating with the Public Works Ministry, the Health Ministry, the National Education Ministry and the Finance Ministry, he said.
He said the government has decided to set aside 2 percent of the total general allocation funds for the development of the regions.
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