Japan grant for Sabang port

JAKARTA (JP): The Japanese government has pledged Rp 30 billion (about US$3 million) in grant aid for the development of the Sabang free port on Weh island, Aceh.

Antara reported on Saturday that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would disburse the fund in April and that the development of the island would start in early May.

Sabang mayor Sofyan Haroen said that the Japanese aid would go toward the development of a land-use plan for the island.

He said that with the assistance of Japanese consultants, the land-use plan had been drafted and included an industrial zone, trade zone, residential zone, and tourist area.

"Details of these zones will be prioritized so as to make Sabang a well-planned trading city and free port," Sofyan said, adding that a seaport and an airport would be built first.

He stressed that the development of Sabang as a freeport would not involve sacrificing the interests of the local people.

"Our concept is that the development of Sabang has to continue, but not at the expense of its people," Sofyan said. (tnt)