One Day After Jokowi Met Ramos Horta, The Minister Of Transportation Visited The Indonesian Border With Timor Leste

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (center) visits the Indonesian border with Timor Leste in Belu Regency, Atambua, NTT, Wednesday 20 July. (Ministry of Transportation Doc)

NTT - The day after the meeting of the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste Jose Ramos-Horta with President Jokowi at the Bogor Presidential Palace, the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi visited Indonesia's border with Timor Leste.

The Minister of Transportation said that his arrival at the Motaain Cross-Border Post (PLBN), in Belu Regency, Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Wednesday, July 20, was to prepare a number of transportation infrastructure in areas directly bordering Timor Leste.

"I came here to ensure that connectivity on land, sea and air goes well in the border areas of Indonesia and Timor Leste," said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation revealed that a number of transportation infrastructures are being prepared, namely in the land sector, namely building an international freight terminal (TBI) in NTT, one of which is TBI Motaain on the border of Indonesia and Timor Leste.

"This is an activity center to check the movement of goods from Indonesia to Timor Leste or vice versa," he said.

Still in the land sector, plans for the Damri bus operation are being prepared with a route from Kupang-Dili.

Regarding this, the Minister of Transportation asked Damri to prepare a study related to this matter.

Furthermore, in the sea transportation sector, the government is currently building the Atapupu Port in Belu Regency, with a APBN allocation of IDR 80 billion.

"It is currently being worked on and we will adjust the depth, because the Regent conveys that there is a desire for the community to be served by larger ships," he said.

Meanwhile, in the air sector, the Minister of Transportation said that he would evaluate the existence of airports in NTT, especially at the border such as AA Bere Tallo Airport in Atambua, so that connectivity is maximized.

In addition, it is also being proposed to open flight routes from several regions in Indonesia to Dili, Timor Leste.

Furthermore, the Minister of Transportation expressed his appreciation to the regional government and a number of related parties such as marine and fisheries vocational education providers who have provided support in border areas.

"This is proof that the government is present to the tip or border of Indonesia," he said.

On the same occasion, the Regent of Belu Agustinus Taolin welcomed the presence of the Minister of Transportation in the Regency which is directly adjacent to Timor Leste.

“Thank you to the President and the Minister of Transportation for signing an agreement with the Government of Timor Leste to improve connectivity on the land route from Kupang, Atambua, to Timor Leste. Hopefully, it will further increase economic activity at the border between the two countries," he said.

On Tuesday, July 19, according to an Antara report, President Jokowi and President Ramos Horta held a bilateral meeting to discuss various cooperation between the two countries.

One of the topics discussed was efforts to strengthen connectivity both on land and at sea.

For land connectivity, President Jokowi hopes that the launch of the Kupang-Dili bus route can be carried out soon. Meanwhile, for sea connectivity, namely opening the Kupang-Dili-Darwin ship route.

Also present at the review were Secretary General of Land Affairs Martha Hadi Suwarno, Head of BPTD NTT Tito Gesit, Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation Mugen S. Sartoto, and Director of Ports Subagyo.