PTPP Completes Construction And Development Of Komodo Airport, Inaugurated Directly By President Jokowi

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. PTPP)

JAKARTA - The state-owned construction company, PT PP (Persero) Tbk (PTPP), has successfully completed the construction and expansion of the Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport facility.

As a sign of the completion of the construction, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, directly held the inauguration ceremony for the operation of the airport on Thursday, July 21. The inauguration ceremony was symbolically marked by the beating of a drum by President Joko Widodo and the signing of an inscription.

During the event, the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo was accompanied by the Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljana, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Viktor Laiskodat, and West Manggarai Regent Edistasius Endi.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended directly by Novel Arsyad as President Director, Anton Satyo Hendriatmo as Director of Operations for Building Sector, and Bakhtiyar Efendi as PTPP's SVP Corporate Secretary.

The construction and development project for Komodo Airport is located in Labuan Bajo, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The project in which the funds are sourced from the State Budget has the following scope of work: runway extension work, passenger terminal interior arrangement work, passenger terminal extension work, TH 17 runway obstacle cutting, and so on.

One of the developments carried out by PTPP is from the runway side in the form of an extension from 2,450 meters to 2,650 meters. With the extension of the runway, it is hoped that it will be more flexible to be used by narrow-body aircraft.

The President assessed that the expansion of airport facilities would facilitate direct aircraft flights from abroad to Labuan Bajo. With the increase in tourists from abroad and the archipelago, Labuan Bajo will be increasingly recognized by the world. In his remarks, President Jokowi said that the terminal facilities at Komodo International Airport will continue to be equipped in line with the needs of the community.

Furthermore, the Head of State hopes that by continuing to develop facilities, economic growth and tourism in the Labuan Bajo area can continue to increase.

"We hope that with the addition of tourists, both foreign and domestic tourists, Labuan Bajo will become more well-known and most importantly can improve the welfare of our society, especially the people of East Nusa Tenggara," said the Head of State.

PTPP President Director Novel Arsyad said, as a construction company, his party had completed the work on time and with the best quality. Currently, he said, Labuan Bajo is one of the tourist destinations in Indonesia that attracts foreign and local tourists.

"This area has very beautiful scenery so it has its own advantages. We hope that with the completion and inauguration of the development of this Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo will become one of the favorite tourist destinations in Indonesia," he explained, quoted Monday, July 25.

"The presence of this airport will certainly have a positive impact on economic growth in East Nusa Tenggara Province. PTPP is very proud to be trusted to be a contractor in the Komodo Airport development project in Labuan Bajo. PTPP will continue to support government programs in improving infrastructure in Indonesia," Novel Arsyad added.