Eastern regions to have railways<\/p>\n
Antara, Pontianak<\/p>\n
The government is set to improve land transport in eastern
\nIndonesia, as part of efforts to accelerate development there.<\/p>\n
A one-day Kalimantan-Sulawesi Regional Coordination Forum held
\nin Pontianak, West Kalimantan on Saturday produced a 13-point
\nplan on how to encourage economic development. Two points focused
\non developing the regions' transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Transportation has pledged to hold seminars on
\nrailway networks for Kalimantan and Sulawesi for two months
\nstarting in June.<\/p>\n
"A railway study of the area is necessary in order to get a
\nbetter picture of how railway development in eastern Indonesia
\ncould fit into national railway affairs," head of the research
\nand development division at the Ministry of Transportation, Cucuk
\nSuryo Suprojo, was quoted by Antara as saying at the forum.<\/p>\n
Director general of spatial plan affairs at the Ministry of
\nResettlement and Regional Infrastructure, Syarifuddin Akil, said
\nland transport projects in Kalimantan needed a total of Rp 8.4
\ntrillion (US$840 million).<\/p>\n
The forum also agreed to put forward an Integrated Economic
\nDevelopment Zone (Kapet) plan to kickstart development.<\/p>\n
The gathering was attended by nine provincial administrations
\nin the regions and was aimed at coordinating local plans, because
\nthe eastern regions do not receive as much attention as Java and
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
State Minister for the Acceleration of Development in Eastern
\nIndonesia Manuel Kaisiepo said at the forum that the severe lack
\nof institutional, infrastructural support had contributed to
\nunderdevelopment in the regions.<\/p>\n
He explained his office had completed a general strategy for
\nthe regions' development based on the characteristic of each
\nregion.<\/p>\n
But, he added, the public have to be informed of the strategy.<\/p>\n
The government has also earmarked Rp 153 billion from the
\nstate budget plus Rp 40 billion in compensation for the fuel
\nprice hike to establish offices for maritime affairs in eastern
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
"The budget is 115 percent greater than last year," said a
\ndirector general at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and
\nFisheries, Sumpeno Putro.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eastern-regions-to-have-railways-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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