Coordinating Minister AHY: Tanjung Carat Port Must Be Built Integratedly

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development (Menko IPK) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono emphasized that the development of Tanjung Carat Port in South Sumatra Province must be carried out in an integrated manner so that it can have a real impact on the local economy.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, when interviewed in Palembang, Tuesday, said the development of Tanjung Carat Port was an urgent need considering the limited capacity of the New Boom Port and the high potential for exports of South Sumatra (Sumsel) flagship commodities which have so far had to go through ports in other provinces.

"Tanjung Carat Port should not be built piecemeal. It must be integrated with road access, logistics connectivity, and supporting areas so that the impact is maximum for the local economy," he said.

According to him, the construction of the port is in line with the vision of Asta Cita and the direction of President Prabowo Subianto who emphasizes the development of infrastructure with added value and is oriented towards the welfare of the community.

Because, he said, South Sumatra has great potential in the agricultural, plantation, mining, and processing industries which require a large-capacity port to increase export competitiveness.

In addition to ports, the central and regional governments also discussed handling supporting infrastructure, such as the repair of national roads and toll roads, handling a railway track, and the construction of flyovers to facilitate logistics flows.

In its implementation, the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure has a role in orchestrating five technical ministries so that the construction of Tanjung Carat Port runs in harmony, ranging from land provision, road access development, to integration with transportation networks and industrial areas.

Regarding financing, AHY stated that the construction of Tanjung Carat Port not only relied on the State Budget (APBN) and Regional Budget (APBD), but also opened investment opportunities through government and business cooperation schemes (KPBU) to ensure the project runs sustainably.