Airports, ports planned for int'l flights, trade<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Airports and seaports in North Sulawesi, West
\nKalimantan and East Kalimantan will be developed to facilitate
\ninternational flights and trade to support the establishment of
\nsub-regional cooperation involving Indonesia, the Philippines,
\nBrunei and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto told
\nreporters after a meeting with a number of ministers and
\ngovernors on Saturday that airports and seaports in Manado, North
\nSulawesi; Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, and Pontianak, West
\nKalimantan will be expanded in the near future so that they can
\naccommodate large airplanes and ships.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by the governors of the three
\nprovinces, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto,
\nMinister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave, State
\nMinister of Investment\/Chairman of the Investment Coordinating
\nBoard Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo and Minister of Forestry Djamaloedin
\nSoeryohadikoesoemo.<\/p>\n
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said recently that its study
\non the planned cooperation, called the East ASEAN Growth Area
\n(EAGA), is feasible for the acceleration of economic development
\nin the areas involved -- the three Indonesian provinces, the
\nMalaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, five provinces of the
\nPhilippines and Brunei.<\/p>\n
Minister Haryanto explained that after their expansion, the
\nairports in Manado, Pontianak and Balikpapan are expected to
\nserve international flights bound to various countries, including
\nSingapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Japan, Hong
\nKong, Canada, the United States and European countries.<\/p>\n
He added that regional flights from the three airports will be
\nserved by Merpati Nusantara, Sempati Air, Mandala and Bouraq
\nairlines, while the international flights will be served by the
\nnational flag carrier Garuda Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The minister said the expansion of the Sepinggan airport in
\nBalikpapan will be funded with a US$150-million aid from the
\nOverseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan and the Sam Ratulangi
\nairport in Manado with a $125-million aid from the Asian
\nDevelopment Bank.<\/p>\n
\"The expansion of the Supadio airport in Pontianak will use
\nthe state budget,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Minister Hartarto said the expansion of the seaports in
\nPontianak, Balikpapan and Manado will start this year.<\/p>\n
Tourism<\/p>\n
Joop said he is optimistic that with the operation of the
\nregional and international flights, the three provinces will
\nbecome very important destinations for international tourists,
\nconsidering that they are homes to attractive submarine parks.<\/p>\n
\"The Bunaken submarine park offshore Sulawesi has been popular
\nall over the world for some time,\" he added.<\/p>\n
West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan also have potential sites
\nfor adventure and eco-tourism, Joop said.<\/p>\n
West Kalimantan Governor Arwin said his province has a
\nmountainous area on Gunung Palung with the most original forests
\nin the world.<\/p>\n
\"We also have two-layer waterfalls and rivers suitable for
\nraft rides,\" he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Governor of East Kalimantan Ardans said his province has
\nthousands of species of birds.<\/p>\n
Hartarto said the team assigned by the ADB is expected to make
\nrecommendations soon on potential businesses which can be
\ndeveloped in the EAGA area.<\/p>\n
When asked about Australia's interest in joining the EAGA,
\nHartarto said that its proposal is still under consideration by
\nthe four concerned governments. (fhp)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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