At Gudang Garam Garapan Airport, Owned By Conglomerate Susilo Wonowidjojo, Kediri Regent Commits To Prioritizing Workforce From Local Residents

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan during a visit to Kediri's Dhoho Airport. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Kediri Regent Hanindhito Himawan Pramana emphasized that the district government will be committed to prioritizing workers from residents around the airport (airport), following the plan to operate in mid-2023.

The Regent emphasized that later a special team would be formed to examine the form of the Regent's Regulation regarding the absorption of local workers that he would make.

"A special team will be formed to study what model is suitable for the culture of the residents of the west of the river, so that it will be right on target," said the Regent in Kediri, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, December 1.

He also explained that during the construction of the airport in Grogol District, Kediri Regency, 60 percent of the residents around the airport had absorbed.

He said that the existence of the Gudang Garam airport owned by the conglomerate Susilo Wonowidjojo certainly had an impact on all lines, including social effects. In the future, local residents will definitely change their livelihood from farmers to workers whose scope is urban. To that end, the district government is trying to find ways to keep residents empowered.

"So far, more than 60 percent (of labor), but the most important thing is that after the airport is finished, how can the Kediri Regency Government increase the labor-intensive area in the west of the river," said Mas Bup, his nickname.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan together with the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning and the National Land Agency Sofyan A. Jalil made a working visit related to the progress of airport construction in Kediri Regency.

He considered the progress of development very good since he came to directly inspect the construction seven months ago.

Luhut also emphasized that the airport construction could certainly have a positive impact, especially in the south of East Java, such as in the Trenggalek, Pacitan, Ponorogo areas to Banyuwangi. People don't need to go to Surabaya by plane but can from Kediri.

He also hopes that all synergize with each other for land acquisition. The construction of this airport has been included in the National Strategic Project (PSN) so that nothing should hinder it. Compensation of profits will be given to the community in accordance with the mandate of the law, so that all must comply.

"We have to be firm. Don't let this development be hampered and delayed. This is for the benefit of the Republic of Indonesia. This can create jobs and make the economy improve and the welfare of the people will also increase," he said.

It is targeted that the airport construction will be completed by the end of 2022 and ready to operate in mid-2023.

In addition to the airport construction, the Kediri-Tulungagung toll road is also planned. The connection between Kediri Airport and the Kediri Tulungagung toll road is a unit that must be completed in 2023.

For this reason, he also hopes that all policy makers will participate in supervising the construction of airports so that they are of high quality.