Minister Of Transportation Meets French Trade Minister To Discuss Financing LRT Bandung To BRT Medan

JAKARTA - Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi met with French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin. The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation in the transportation sector, one of which was related to the financing of the Bandung LRT.

Dudy's meeting with French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin took place at the Ministry of Transportation Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday, April 9.

Dudy said a number of partnerships and cooperations were also discussed, among others, related to the land, sea, air, rail transportation sector, as well as strengthening and developing transportation human resources focused on competency, vocational education, training, as well as vocational education in polytechnics and transportation academies assisted by the Ministry of Transportation.

Indonesia is committed to deepening the transportation sector partnership with France. This discussion is to ensure that the cooperation will have a real impact on the two countries," Dudy said in an official statement, Thursday, April 10.

Dudy said the opportunities for cooperation in the land sector discussed are infrastructure improvement and accessibility of public transportation in urban areas throughout Indonesia, as well as financing for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Medan and Bandung which will contribute to an integrated transportation system and increase mobility.

"In the railway sector, the potential for cooperation is discussed in the Bandung Railway Development project, the Padalarang-Cicalengka electrification, as well as the acceleration of the Bandung LRT plan," he said.

Meanwhile, in the sea transportation sector, continued Dudy, the cooperation discussed is the renewal of the MoU Certificate of Recognition (COR). Currently, the MoU is in category 1, so only Indonesia recognizes the certificate of French seafarers.

In the future, continued Dudy, it is hoped that the MoU will become a category 3 so that Indonesia and France will recognize each other.

"By acknowledging that certification between the two countries will encourage employment opportunities, strengthen maritime cooperation, improve economic benefits for both countries, and support the efficiency and operational safety of the global shipping industry," said Dudy.

For the air transportation sector, it was discussed the extension of the Technical Cooperation Agreement cooperation and the modernization of flight navigation equipment for the airspace area of Western Indonesia.

"I encourage the French aviation industry to continue to cooperate with Indonesia and actively participate in the upcoming procurement process. The procurement process is fully under AirNav Indonesia's authority and will be carried out in accordance with applicable legal provisions and regulations," he said.

Regarding the development of human resources, it was discussed regarding the master's program in the Air Navigation Services Management field which was held in Toulouse, France and the training for Air Navigation Services in Indonesia.

"I hope this discussion will produce results. We are fully committed and always open to strengthening transportation cooperation with applicable legal and regulatory provisions," concluded Minister of Transportation Dudy.