Govt to improve Sabang Port

Govt to improve Sabang Port

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar said on
Thursday the government would develop new facilities at Aceh's
Sabang Port to improve its service and capacity as an
international port for passengers and cargo.

He said the expansion project would take three to four years
to complete and estimated the total cost at over Rp 20 billion
(US$2.8 million).

"The funds are expected to come from loans from Japan Bank
International Cooperation as well as from the budget allocated by
the port's management, PT Pelindo I," he was quoted by Antara
news agency as saying.

President Abdurrahman Wahid on Tuesday formally changed the
status of Sabang Port to that of a free port zone.

Agum said Sabang Port would see an enormous increase in
business once its new facilities were completed because it was
located between the two busy transshipment ports of Singapore and
Srilangka. (cst)