Today 22 October 2020: Kendari Bay Bridge Inaugurated By President Jokowi

President Jokowi (the purple spring) when inaugurating the Kendari Bay Bridge on October 22, 2020. (Between/BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - Today, two years ago, October 22, 2020, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Kendari Bay Bridge. The bridge was built to develop the Konawe area and the Port of Bungkutoko, Southeast Sulawesi. The goal of development is to increase economic growth.

Moreover, Jokowi ensured that the presence of the Kendari Bay Bridge could have a positive impact on other industries. From agriculture to plantation industries. Therefore, the cost of Rp804 billion will be comparable to the benefits felt by the community.

The development of infrastructure is President Jokowi's teachings in leading Indonesia. He built anything. From airports to bridges. Everything is to improve the living standards of the Indonesian people. Jokowi's testimony was witnessed by all levels of ministries and local officials.

This will affect the turn of the economy in an area. All sectors will feel the impact. These include the transportation, agriculture, plantation, and MSME business sectors.

That was what Jokowi thought when he inaugurated the Kendari Bay Bridge on October 22, 2020. The bridge, which was built for five years at a total cost of Rp804 billion, is considered to bring new hope. The presence of the Kendari Bay Bridge is predicted to be full of benefits.

The shorter the distance is the main one. Residents of Kota Lama who want to travel to Poasia District no longer have to twist the bay as far as 20 KM. Because, with the new bridge, the time taken is only five minutes.

For the people of Kota Lama who travel to Poasia District who usually cross Kendari Bay using a ferry and circle the bay for 20 kilometers with a travel time of 30-40 minutes, now it only takes 5 minutes. The smoothness of connectivity and access will make the mobility of goods, mobility of services, human mobility more efficient.

Thus, competitiveness will increase, so that Southeast Sulawesi, especially Kendari City, will become increasingly attractive for the development of new businesses. This bridge was built to support the development of the Konawe area and the Bungkutoko Port which will be developed as industrial areas of Kendari New Port and new residential areas, thus creating new centers of economic growth in Kendari and in Southeast Sulawesi Province," said Jokowi as quoted by the Cabinet Secretariat website.

The presence of the Kendari Bay Bridge is not only about short distances. Jokowi believes that the presence of the bridge can bring abundant profits to all kinds of business sectors around it.

This means that economic growth is the thing that is most awaited from the presence of the Kendari Bay Bridge. The language of ease, jobs can appear so that the bridge can bring more value to Kendari residents. Moreover, the Kendari Bay Bridge can be transformed into a new icon of Kendari City.

I see that this bridge is not only of great benefit, but also interesting in terms of architecture. Beautiful the Kendari City landscape, became a new icon, and became the pride of the people of Kendari City, and of course made Kendari City better known for having a new landmark.

I received reports that the area around this bridge will also be arranged, equipped with public open spaces such as sports fields, parking areas, and street cinemas as part of the development of the old city area. And I am sure this will increase the appeal from the Kendari Bay Bridge," Jokowi continued.