Serang seaport work must start soon: Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called yesterday for the
\nimmediate commencement of work on the construction of a
\ncommercial seaport in Serang, West Java, to support the rapid
\ngrowth of industrial activity in the province.<\/p>\n
\"The immediate construction of the seaport in West Java is
\nvital to facilitate the rapid growth in the province's industrial
\nactivities.\" the President was quoted as saying by Minister\/State
\nSecretary Moerdiono.<\/p>\n
Soeharto made the call during a special meeting with
\nMoerdiono, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, State
\nMinister for Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita, State
\nMinister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, Minister of Public
\nWorks Radinal Moochtar, Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin
\nBaharsjah, Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo and
\nState Minister of Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said that the planned seaport in Serang was intended
\nto support the projected rapid growth in exports from industrial
\nzones to the west of Jakarta, including Tangerang, Serang and
\nCilegon, while Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta would serve exports
\nfrom industrial zones to the east of the capital, such as Bekasi
\nand Kerawang.<\/p>\n
Exports from those industrial zones are expected to rapidly
\ngrow in the next few years as a result of the massive growth in
\nforeign and domestic investment in the province.<\/p>\n
Last year, foreign investment approvals exceeded US$23
\nbillion, constituting almost half of the total foreign
\ninvestments approved during the last Fifth Five Year Development
\nPlan (Repelita V) period, which ended in March 1994.<\/p>\n
Most foreign and domestic investors in Indonesia opt to base
\ntheir industrial operations in the industrial zones of West Java,
\nsuch as Bekasi, Kerawang, Tangerang, Serang and Cilegon.<\/p>\n
Foreign investments are expected to continue growing on the
\nimpact of the government's increasingly open investment policies.
\nBy the end of the first quarter of this year, foreign investment
\napprovals had already reached $13 billion.<\/p>\n
\"If a new seaport is not immediately constructed, there will
\nbe, not only massive traffic jams in the capital, but also a
\nstagnation of export activities,\" Moerdiono said, referring to
\nthe President's views as expressed during the meeting.<\/p>\n
Goh<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said the President had discussed the seaport project
\nwith Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong during his recent
\nvisit to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He did not say what the Singapore prime minister's response
\nhad been. He did say that the President had instructed the
\nminister of transportation to immediately study the planned
\nseaport project.<\/p>\n
Minister Radinal was also asked during the meeting to improve
\nthe condition of the roads linking the capital with nearby
\nindustrial zones and the planned seaport.<\/p>\n
The seaport in Serang is one of the projects worth $2.01
\nbillion being proposed by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia, the state-owned
\nfirm which manages and operates seaports in the western part of
\nthe country, for construction during the current five year
\ndevelopment plan (Repelita VI).<\/p>\n
Amir Harbani, the company's president, told the House of
\nRepresentatives in a recent hearing that the construction of the
\nSerang port, which will be located in the Bojanegara district,
\nwas likely to cost $500 million.<\/p>\n
The other projects planned include an expansion of the Tanjung
\nPriok port and the reclamation of a 500-hectare strip of
\ncoastline along Jakarta's north coast.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's meeting, the President also instructed the
\ncabinet ministers to seek an immediate solution to the growing
\nneed for clean water in the capital and its surroundings. (hen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/serang-seaport-work-must-start-soon-soeharto-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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