The Indonesian government has designated Wanam in Merauke as a National Strategic Project (PSN), aimed at establishing a “food satellite” region under the direction of President Prabowo Subianto. This initiative is anchored in Presidential Decree No. 19 of 2025 and Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 2025, which mandate accelerated development in areas of food self-sufficiency, energy, and water. On August 26, 2025, high-level officials—including the Coordinating Minister for Food, the Ministers of Defence, Public Works, Environment, Agriculture, and senior military figures—conducted an on-site review and strategic meeting to outline roles and responsibilities.
Under this PSN framework, duties are allocated among ministries: the Ministry of Defence secures and supports defence-related industrial development via Pindad; the Public Works Ministry drafts infrastructure guidelines; the Environment Ministry expedites environmental approvals to ensure sustainability; and the Agriculture Ministry drives land cultivation, supplies production facilities, and manages planting efforts. Wanam is envisioned to host a 1-million-hectare rice-planting program, while also developing critical infrastructure such as airports, seaports, irrigation networks, biodiesel production, defence industry expansion, and a 130 km road connecting Wanam to Boven Digoel. The project is overseen by the “Merah Putih Task Force,” composed of TNI elements along with community, religious, and youth leaders. Overall, the initiative aims to strengthen Indonesia’s economic sovereignty and secure sustainable food reserves.
