President Jokowi Officially Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road, September 25, 2020

President Jokowi inaugurated the Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road (Twitter/@Jokowi)

JAKARTA - Two years ago, September 25, 2020, President Jokowi inaugurated the Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road virtually. The inauguration was carried out from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java. Previously, the toll road was built 131.5 kilometers long at a cost of Rp12.18 trillion.

The presence of the toll road is predicted to be more efficient. Therefore, the Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road can bring great benefits to the Indonesian government and local residents. This advantage is in the form of opening up new jobs.

Development makes the people prosperous. That is the thought that is often echoed by leaders in the archipelago. In President Jokowi's leadership, for example. Development is considered a symbol of the progress of the times and also a kind of prestigious legacy.

The infrastructure development is encouraged. Likewise with the permits. Everything is made easier. The construction of the Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road is proof. The toll road began to be built in July 2017. The construction was encouraged until the work was completed within three years, or in 2020.

President Jokowi also moved to inaugurate the virtual toll road from the Bogor Palace on September 25, 2020. Jokowi feels that the presence of the toll road will support the corruptive activities of the people of Riau and its surroundings. Moreover, the toll road was made for 131.5 kilometers.

The toll road is part of the Trans-Sumatra toll road which stretches from Lampung to Aceh. For this reason, there are no more obstacles in sending natural resources on the island of Sumatra.

"This will increase connectivity between the capital city of Riau Province and Dumai City as a port city with an advanced oil and agribusiness industry, as previously stated by the Governor of Riau."

Also other industrial and plantation areas. This toll road also shortens the distance traveled between Pekanbaru- Dumai City, from the previous 200 kilometers if it goes national, it becomes only 131 kilometers if it is reached through this toll road. With this condition, trucks carrying palm oil, oil transport, logistics transportation, passenger transportation will be more efficient in terms of time and cost," said Jokowi as quoted by the Cabinet Secretariat for a long time.

Jokowi also hopes that the Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road will invite high investment interest. This means that the presence of the Jol road is believed to be able to open up many jobs. The economic outlook is increasing and the local community will prosper.

Jokowi also left a message to the Pekanbaru-Dumai community to maintain the infrastructure together. so that it can be used as well as possible. Everything is for the sake of equitable distribution of community welfare.

"I received a report that the existence of this toll road has invited investment interest to develop businesses around this toll road, such as building an industrial area which will create jobs, developing housing will also create jobs, then develop tourism facilities which will also create jobs."

The growth of these new economic centers will certainly increase regional economic activity and once again open up more jobs for our young people. Investor interest to support regional development like this must be responded to quickly, so that local governments and communities can benefit more from the existence of infrastructure built by the government," added President Jokowi.