Pembangunan PLBN Jagoi Babang Di Kalbar Mampu Tingkatkan Pertumbuhan Ekspor

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said the construction of the Jagoi Babang State Border Post (PLBN) in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, was able to become a new center of economic growth in Indonesia's border area. This PLBN has been completed and operational since July 2023.

"This PLBN is able to create new economic growth for people at the border," said Minister Basuki in his official statement, quoted on Tuesday, January 16.

In addition to becoming a new center of economic growth, Minister Basuki assessed that the development of PLBN is also to reduce disparities and equalize infrastructure development, especially in border areas.

"Through the construction of PLBN, the government is trying to maintain state sovereignty," he said.

One of the managers of PLBN Jagoi Babang, Misdo Jerry Purba, said that the export movement in the region has grown greatly, which since its operation in July 2023 has generated exports of around IDR 3-4 billion. Then, one month later or to be precise August 2023 increased to IDR 5 billion, and in September it reached IDR 6 billion.

"This growth cannot be separated from the relatively closer distance factor to Kuching City, Serawak, Malaysia. As a comparison of the travel time from PLBN Jagoi Babang is less than 1 hour, from Entikong 1.5 hours, Aruk is more than 1.5 hours and from PLBN Nanga Badau 2.5 hours," he said.

Currently, the majority of commodities exported to Malaysia through PLBN Jagoi Babang are agricultural products, namely petai, potatoes, chilies and fruits such as dragons, watermelons and heroines.

For your information, PLBN Jagoi Babang was built in the period 2020-2023 on 16.4 hectares (ha) with a construction value of Rp225.7 billion. Its scope of work includes core buildings, warehouses of goods and transits, messes, offices, Indonesian guesthouses, water tower buildings, official houses, guard posts, power houses, polling stations, border markets, zero point gates and other facilities.

Based on data from the Ministry of PUPR, 6 PLBNs have been completed in batch two to date, namely the Sota Integrated PLBN in Merauke Regency, Papua, the Integrated PLBN Serasan in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands and the Jagoi Babang Integrated PLBN in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan.

Then, there is PLBN Integrated Sei Pancang in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, PLBN Integrated Napan, North Central Timor Regency in NTT and PLBN Integrated Yetetkun in Boeven Digoel Regency, Papua.