Jakarta, Feb. 26 -- Indonesia's National Development Planning Minister Rachmat Pambudy said Thursday that accelerating infrastructure development in Papua must be prioritized through special planning mechanisms.

"In the Special Papua Development Planning Forum, we have considered key infrastructure needs, including ports, crucial bridges, and road repairs. Without this, harvests and logistics could be disrupted," he said in Jakarta, citing a meeting with Merauke District Head Yoseph B. Gebze.

He added that the forum should also address infrastructure in border areas and strategic zones, such as coastal defense posts, to strengthen national security.

Pambudy emphasized that infrastructure development must integrate with border reinforce...