Not Accompanying Jokowi When He Inaugurated The Toll Road In North Sumatra, Minister Of PUPR Basuki Apparently Was In Tunisia

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono held a meeting with the Minister of Agricultural Affairs, Hydroulic Resources and Tunisian Fisheries Abdelmonam. BETWEEN/HO - Ministry of PUPR

JAKARTA - The absence of PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono when President Jokowi inaugurated the toll road in North Sumatra (North Sumatra) became a concern. Apparently Basuki was on a working visit to Tunisia.

Minister Basuki discussed opportunities for cooperation in the infrastructure sector with Tunisia and Egypt.

"Thank you for inviting the Government of Indonesia to participate in The 5th Mediterranean Water Forum. We really appreciate the full support from the Tunisian Government for the Indonesian Government which is hosting the 10th World Water Forum. As well as its active contribution to the Mediterranean regional process as part of the 10th World Water Forum," Basuki said in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 7.

During this meeting, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and Minister of Agricultural Affairs, Hidraulic Resources and Tunisian Fisheries Abdelmonam discussed preparations for the 10th World Water Forum which will be held in Bali, Indonesia on 18-25 May 2024.

In addition, bilateral meetings also discussed opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the field of water resources.

During his working visit to Tunisia, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia Zuhairi Misrawi, and Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for Technology, Industry and Environment Endra S. Atmawidjaja, held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Hidraulic Resources and Tunisian Fisheries Abdellaam Belaati.

Minister Basuki also conveyed an official invitation from the President of the Republic of Indonesia Jokowi to Tunisian President Kais Saied to attend the 10th World Water Forum.

"We hope that the Tunisian President will consider the invitation and be pleased to attend the 10th World Water Forum, including attending the High-Level Meeting with other Heads of State," he said.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the operation of the Tebing Tinggi-Indrapura toll road section and the Indrapura-Limapuluh section in North Sumatra Province (North Sumatra).

President Jokowi, through footage from the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, said the two toll road infrastructures are part of the Trans-Sumatra toll road which is projected to increase transportation connectivity to the Lake Toba tourist area and the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone (KEK).

"By saying bismillahirrohmanirrohim, this morning I inaugurated the Indrapura-Limapuluh Kisaran toll road and the Kuala Tanjung-Tebing Tinggi-Paarapat section, Tebing Tinggi-Indrapura section, in Batubara Regency, North Sumatra Province," said President Jokowi during a speech during the agenda for the inauguration of the toll road.

The Tebing Tinggi Indrapura toll road which stretches along 20.4 kilometers was built at a government cost of Rp3.06 trillion and the Indrapura-Limapuluh toll road with a length of 15.6 kilometers was built at a cost of Rp1.67 trillion.

The President said the two toll roads would increase transportation connectivity to tourism areas in Lake Toba and increase logistics speed to the Kuala Tanjung port and also various economic activities related to the Sei Mangkei SEZ.