Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The government will speed up development in the provinces of Papua and West Papua after an assessment found both still lacking in terms of infrastructure and economy, a senior minister said Wednesday.

"The development policies to be prioritized will therefore be developing basic transportation infrastructure," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S. told reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the State Palace.

"It is important to improve access and mobility to remote areas, and those near the border, so that people in these areas can be reached more easily."

Papua province shares a common border with Papua New Guinea.

Widodo further mentioned the need to develop suitable plantations and crops in the two provinces to promote self-sufficiency. "We are considering developing oil palm plantations, among other things," he said. "This will also help create employment in these areas."

Papua and West Papua are among the most impoverished regions in the country, even though the land is rich in natural resources and major mining companies operating there make handsome profits.

Famine even struck Yahukimo last year after crops failed, likely adding to a growing resentment toward the central government. The sense that development here has been slow, particularly compared with Java, feeds demands from the two provinces for more autonomy over their own affairs and resources.

Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya province, has been divided into two provinces. There have been calls to create a third province of South Papua there.

The second province, West Irian Jaya, was established in February 2003. On its fourth anniversary, the provincial administration renamed the province West Papua, although this has yet to be approved by the central government.

West Papua Governor Abraham Atururi acknowledged the development challenges in the two provinces, and said future strategies should also focus on developing the local human resources.

"Papua is said to be a land of riches; the problem is in its human resources," he said. "We hope this can be changed for the betterment of all."

Officials from the two provinces will meet soon in Manokwari, he said, to discuss cooperation in implementing future development policies.