Development of Sabang as free port to be discussed
JAKARTA (JP): A joint board comprising of Sumatra governors and the Indonesian Maritime Council will be set up to discuss the development of Sabang free port, on Weh Island in Aceh province and on the west coast of Sumatra island.
"In the wake of regional autonomy, the central government here is functioning as facilitator in preparing the supporting regulations as well as an international dimension such as foreign investment," Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sarwono Kusumaatmadja told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the coordination meeting with Sumatra governors on Monday.
The regulations and guidelines are on sea territory and boundaries as well as a spatial plan in a bid to avoid disputes between regions in Sumatra, Sarwono said.
"The (Sumatra) governors will meet in the next few months to discuss further arrangements. Basically we want to develop Sabang Port as a free port with adequate services while at the same time developing business along the west coast of Sumatra involving several provinces from North Sumatra to Bengkulu," he said.
If Sabang Port booms, other ports and the coastal area along Sumatra will also gain benefits from tourism, shipping and oil pipeline transport within five to 10 years from now, the minister added.
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh further said the free trade status given to Weh island and the small neighboring islands meant any foreign freighters would be allowed to unload without paying customs duty.
"Now that Sabang's status as a free port has been restored (in Dec. 22 last year), it is open to any foreign vessels."
"In this way we expect the port to become part of the economic drive, benefiting all Acehnese in the future," Puteh said.
Sabang has a population of 24,000. Sixteen years ago the population ballooned at some 70,000. But most have since moved to more prospective areas such as Batam and Jakarta.
It takes 10 minutes to fly from Banda Aceh to Sabang which is about 35 miles north of Banda Aceh. (edt)