Fast Trains Will Be Extended To Surabaya, SOE Minister Opens Opportunities For INKA To Get Involved

Illustration of the Jakarta Bandung High Speed Train. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir will make a working visit to accompany President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to China in the near future.

One of the points that will be discussed with the Chinese side is to include PT INKA in the Bandung-Surabaya High Speed Rail Project project.

Furthermore, Erick said that currently INKA has also been able to build the Jabodebek LRT, with various inputs from the community as well.

INKA's involvement in the high-speed rail project is also in order to increase the Domestic Component Level (TKDN).

Even so, Erick said Indonesia still needs technology experts. The reason is, the government does not yet have experience in terms of high-speed rail technology.

Currently, Indonesia already has a quick train with a maximum speed of 350 per hour.

"That's why in order to improve TKDN, we make it so that we can cooperate with INKA for the fast train in the future, we can build together," he told reporters, written on Sunday, October 15.

Erick said a working visit to China was also to discuss improving the structure of cooperation. This includes ownership to interest rates.

Furthermore, said Erick, infrastructure development is indeed the focus of the government to realize the ideals of a developed country.

However, he stressed, this development takes time.

"Because if we want to become a developed country, the infrastructure must be built, whether toll roads, trains, ports, airports that will definitely take time," he said.