Minister Of Transportation Directly To Babylon After Knowing Jokowi Wants Ports To Be More Productive

Photo via Babel Provincial Government

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) to optimize ports in the Bangka Belitung (Babel) Islands, in order to increase the mobility of export commodities and the people's economy.

"Mr. President Jokowi advised us to make the ports in Babel more productive," said Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi, Monday, July 4, quoted from Antara.

Receiving such an order, Budi Karya together with the Acting (Pj) Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands Ridwan Djamaluddin and the Deputy Regent of South Bangka Debby Vita Dewi directly inspected Sadai Port, Sunday, July 3.

"In order for ports in this area to be more productive, we can cooperate with BUMD and the private sector," said the Minister of Transportation.

According to him, the inspection of Sadai Port was carried out so that it would be the next action for improving port infrastructure, so that it was clear which one would be developed as a port for goods, or for passengers.

"Our arrival has indeed been planned together, in order to map the ports on the islands of Bangka and Belitung. Later we will develop this again to make it more productive," he said.

Acting Governor of the Babylon Islands Ridwan Djamaluddin said the development of this port was very important for the progress of Babylon. Where can facilitate the mobility of palm oil, tin, and other commodities to be sent outside the region.

"The key word from the Minister is productivity. How can we manage the ports being built with good productivity. For that, I at the provincial government level together with districts/cities will make an integrated plan regarding this," he said.

Ridwan Djamaluddin also on this occasion requested a proposal to the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, so that the existing ports could also be focused on public services.

"If we may focus on community services, that is, transporting people (passengers) will be prioritized. As we know, for example, there is Lepar Island which has a population as well. Because our province is an archipelago, it is very closely related to the transportation sector," he said. .

In order to make this happen immediately, Acting Governor Ridwan Djamaluddin will soon invite regents and mayors, including officials under the Ministry of Transportation, to discuss this further.

In addition to reviewing the Sadai Crossing Port, then Acting Governor Ridwan Djamaluddin and Mehub Budi Karya and their entourage, also carried out monitoring by air, the condition of the Tanjung Snake Port of West Bangka and the Belinyu Bangka Sea Port.