Prabowo Affirms Road Connectivity Is Key to Lowering Logistics Costs

President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that the development and improvement of road connectivity is a vital factor in reducing national logistics costs. In his remarks during the inauguration of 1,151 kilometres of regional roads in Sampang Regency, East Java, on Tuesday, the President stated that the availability of adequate and well-connected road networks between production centres, industrial areas, and community settlements can reduce transport costs. “Transport costs will become cheaper if there are sufficient roads, if there is connectivity between all production centres and residential areas,” said Prabowo, as monitored via the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube broadcast in Jakarta. Prabowo noted that Indonesia is an archipelagic nation with a vast territory and diverse geographical conditions. Therefore, adequate road infrastructure development is key to facilitating inter-regional connectivity and reducing goods transportation costs. According to Prabowo, regional roads play a strategic role as they serve as the arteries for the movement of goods and community produce from villages to markets and economic centres. “It is through these roads that farmers’ harvests, plantation produce, fishery products, and various community products can move from villages to markets, distribution centres, industrial zones, and vice versa,” he said. The President assured that the government will continue to strengthen the infrastructure network to lower logistics costs, which have long been a challenge for national economic competitiveness. “We must reduce logistics costs for all the people and our economy,” Prabowo stated.