Selected South Sumatra To Receive Grants From The US

PALEMBANG - The province of South Sumatra has been selected to receive a grant from the United States government for infrastructure development and the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Director of Bilateral Funding Cooperation of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas Kurniawan Ariadi, said that South Sumatra was one of five provinces in Indonesia that received foreign assistance from the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) program from the United States.

The distribution of the grant funds is bound by an agreement that binds the Indonesian government represented by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which is an agency of the United States Government.

This program is intended to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.

"South Sumatra, North Sumatra, Riau Islands, Bali and Riau received it," said Kurniawan, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, September 21.

Regarding the proposal from the South Sumatra Provincial Government, Kurniawan Ariadi explained that at least there were several items that were approved, namely supporting the development of Palembang Metropolitan City, supporting the Tanjung Api-Api Integrated Area.

Then, developing an integrated economy in Lake Ranau, supporting the development of the Pagaralam City National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN) and supporting poverty alleviation in North Musi Rawas Regency.

The Palembang Metropolitan Area program includes the construction of the Tanjung Carat international port, the construction of road access to Tanjung Carat, the development of the Sungsang fishing port, the development of TOD and Moda Integration on the LRT, the construction of roads and the Rantau Bayur-Gelumbang bridge, the improvement of the Rambutan-Tulung Selapan road. and improvement of the Air Batu-Tanjung Lago road.

Then support the integrated economic development of Lake Ranau including, revitalizing Banding Agung Airport, increasing the access road for the construction of the Pematang Panggang-Kayu Agung exit toll road to Belitang OKU Timur, improving the Muara Dua Province road - Kota Baru - Lampung Boundary.

Furthermore, it supports the development of the Pagaralam City KSPN, namely the construction of the Lematang Indah Pagaralam Bridge. As well as supporting poverty alleviation in North Musi Rawas Regency, such as improving the Inter-Regency Access Road (Nibung-Tebing Tinggi-Boundary Intersection of Musi Banyuasin Regency).

Governor H Herman Deru said that South Sumatra was very grateful for being chosen by Bappenas to receive the assistance.

A number of proposals from the South Sumatra Provincial Government, such as the development of the Tanjung Carat Port, have been assessed by Bappenas as being the epicenter of South Sumatra's economic growth rate.

With the grant assistance from the United States Government through the MCC, it is expected to be an impetus to accelerate the development of the port.

"This port is a confectionery that must be prioritized," he said.

For this reason, Herman Deru hopes that both parties, namely the grantor and grantee, can work together so that the purpose of providing this assistance can be achieved.