Jakarta –
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), revealed that development efforts in Papua continue to face major challenges, particularly due to the high cost of building materials and limited logistics access.
According to AHY, accelerating development in Papua requires special attention and strong support from the central government. He conveyed this during a Coordination Meeting (Rakor) held at the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development (Kemenko IPK) office in Jakarta on Thursday (October 23, 2025). The meeting was attended by five governors from the Papua region, Minister of Transmigration Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, and Executive Committee Chairman for the Acceleration of Papua Special Autonomy Development, Velix Vernando Wanggai.
One of the main issues raised in the discussion was the high cost of building materials in several areas. AHY cited an example, noting that the price of a single sack of cement in Papua Highlands can reach Rp 1 million to Rp 1.5 million.
“This situation poses a heavy burden for residents who wish to build homes or repair basic facilities. We need to find solutions to make construction materials more affordable,” AHY stated.
He explained that connectivity challenges are the main factor behind the high logistics costs in Papua. Limited land transportation access makes the distribution of goods and essential needs inefficient, consequently driving up the cost of living.
Therefore, AHY emphasized the importance of accelerating the Trans Papua project, which serves as the backbone of land connectivity in the region. The project is expected to become a key driver of economic growth and open access to isolated areas.
In addition, the government is working to integrate air and sea transportation networks to strengthen the logistics chain in Papua.
“We must establish adequate mobility systems, including for logistics transportation, so that both construction and living costs for the Papuan people can be reduced,” he added.
The meeting also discussed basic community needs, including the provision of housing infrastructure and transmigration facilities in certain regions.
Moving forward, AHY plans to hold follow-up meetings with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) and the Ministry of Transportation to discuss technical steps and project priorities.
“These two ministries are the ones working directly on the ground. We will ensure program integration and synchronization so that field implementation becomes more effective and aligns with available budget capacity,” he explained.
