The United Kingdom Provides Export Loans Of IDR 21 Trillion For The Jakarta MRT Project

Photo via Public Relations of PT MRT Jakarta

JAKARTA - The United Kingdom is ready to provide export loans worth £1.2 billion or approximately IDR 21 trillion to PT MRT Jakarta for the construction and development of the MRT.

This was conveyed by the UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to the Asean EC, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines Richard Graham MP during his working visit to the Head Office of PT MRT Jakarta (Perseroda).

"I am pleased to confirm the Expression of Interest or submission of interest from UK Export Finance regarding the provision of export loans worth 1.25 billion pounds for the development of the Jakarta MRT corridor and the development of the urban regeneration project in Jakarta. This project will help change the style of the people of Jakarta," said Richard in a written statement, Thursday, June 16.

Meanwhile, PT MRT Jakarta President Director William Sabandar welcomed this visit. William said that the arrival of representatives of the British Empire was a follow-up meeting from the visit of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan and the directors of MRT Jakarta to England in mid-May.

"This is a follow-up meeting after we previously met in London, United Kingdom in May 2022 to discuss the British Empire's support for the development of the Jakarta MRT corridor," said William.

After this, PT MRT Jakarta will convey its interest in providing debt from the United Kingdom to Anies and the central government as policymakers for the Jakarta MRT development project.

Previously, Anies together with PT MRT Jakarta explained the plan for the construction of phases 3 and 4 in a discussion themed "Building Sustainable MRTJ East West Corridor" which was held in London, England last month.

Anies said that the future of Jakarta's development was public transportation-based and transit-oriented. He made the statement in front of representatives of the British government and eight local companies.

"The main problem for many years in Jakarta is that its development has always been car-oriented. At this time, and in the future, we will change this paradigm to a transit-oriented development," said Anies in a press statement on Sunday, May 15.

According to Anies, through this strategy, his party will restructure public transportation in Jakarta, development zone regulations, and city planning to reflect a transit-oriented area-based approach.

"We want to build a public transportation system that can cover all areas in Jakarta that are integrated with each other and affordable," he said.