Five more firms join investment of N. Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): The municipality signed a memorandum of understanding with five private investors yesterday for the reclamation of the North Jakarta coast and revitalization of Sunda Kelapa port in North Jakarta.
The memorandum was signed at City Hall by representatives of the five investors and city officials in charge of the reclamation and revitalization projects and was witnessed by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.
Surjadi said after the signing ceremony that the municipality expected private investors to make serious preparations to meet all requirements stated in the agreement.
"Private investors' seriousness is necessary to enable the project to be completed on time," Surjadi said.
One of the five investors will join the reclamation program, while the other four the revitalization project.
The private investor supporting the reclamation of North Jakarta bay was PT Jaladri Eka Paksi, which is partially owned by army-owned Eka Paksi Foundation. The company intends to reclaim 200 hectares and turn the reclaimed area into residential, office and business complexes and parks.
The four new companies taking part in the revitalization project are PT Karya Cipta Buana Sentosa, which will revitalize 4,832 square meters of land at Sunda Kelapa, PT Sukabumi Propertindo, 20,100 square meters, PT Dwimarunda Sentosa, 63,330 square meters, and PT Duta Kwalindo Pratama, 40,000 square meters.
The four companies will transform the area into a commercial site.
"Revitalization is in line with the city plan to improve Jakarta's image and give it equal status with other big international cities," Surjadi said.
He added that the revitalization project would support the land reclamation project on the north coast, which will create a new 2,700-hectare waterfront city.
Deputy Governor of Development and Economic Affairs Tb.M. Rais said that all private investors should fulfill the memorandum's requirements within six months.
Among requirements, he said, were detailed plans on the proposed areas, environmental impact analyses, financial proposals and necessary permits.
"The municipality will study them (the fulfilled requirements) before signing any development agreement," Rais said.
He said that the municipality would carefully study proposals from private investors. "We don't want to invite speculators here," Rais said.
The municipality's ambitious plan to revitalize Sunda Kelapa was intended to revive the glory of the Sunda Kelapa port 450 years after the site was captured from the Portuguese on June 22, 1547.
The administration estimated the revitalization project would cost about Rp 8 billion (US$3.27 million), excluding the construction of a 10-story shopping center and new office buildings, which will be offered to private investors. Total cost could reach Rp 14 billion.
By the 21st century, historical and modern high-rise buildings will dominate Sunda Kelapa.
After the completion of the revitalization project, there would be several monuments, a cultural center, a renovated centuries-old mosque and a yacht terminal.
The architecture of old buildings in the area will be maintained to help attract tourists.
Last April, the municipality signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthony Salim of the widely diversified Salim Group, which joined the reclamation project. Anthony proposed reclaiming 600 hectares on the northern coast.
According to current plans, the entire area would contain residential, business, recreational and tourist areas stretching 32 kilometers along Jakarta Bay, from Pluit in the west to Cilincing in the east. (ste)