Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya Meeting The Minister Of Transportation Of Malaysia Is At The Expense Of Strengthening The COVID-19 Post-Demic Cooperation

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, met with Malaysian Transport Minister Loke SiewBook.

This meeting discussed a number of things in order to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in the transportation sector, both crossings, sea and air.

The meeting was held in Malaysia, in the context of a working visit, on Tuesday, February 21.

The cooperation relationship between the two countries has been well established so far. The two countries are committed to continuing to increase cooperation in the transportation sector after the COVID-19 pandemic," said Budi.

Regarding the crossing sector, said Budi, he and the Malaysian Minister of Transportation discussed the initiative of the two countries to open the Dumai-Malawa ferry transportation service (roro).

In October 2022, the Ministry of Transportation and the Malaysian Ministry of Transportation conducted a visit to Sri Junjungan Port in Dumai and Tanjung Bruas Port in Malacca.

The two ports are in the process of developing facilities and infrastructure, starting in 2023, in order to support international standard roro ship cruises, which are targeted to start operating by 2026.

"We have the same commitment, namely how the follow-up to the Dumai-Malawa roro service plan can be realized immediately, to support the connectivity of the sub-regional IMT-GT (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand-Growth Triangle)," he said.

In the marine sector, Budi expressed his gratitude for the support provided by Malaysia in Indonesia's candidacy as a member of the World Maritime Organization (IMO) council or the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2024-2025 period.

"We will also provide support to Malaysia, which is also running for IMO council members," he said.

Meanwhile, in the air sector, continued Budi, Indonesia-Malaysia is currently exploring the possibility of opening air connectivity after the COVID-19 pandemic, to several tourist destinations in Indonesia.

According to Budi, this is in line with the bilateral agreement for air transportation services between the two countries and the ASEAN Open Sky agreement.

"We also agree to continue to work together to implement connectivity between the ASEAN region and the European Union within the framework of the European Union Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (EU CATA)," he said.

In addition, Budi also hopes for support from Malaysia regarding the continuation of the implementation of the Realignment Flight Information Region (FIR) agreement between Indonesia and Singapore which was signed in 2022.

Also attending the meeting was Secretary General of Transportation Novie Riyanto, Director General of Civil Aviation Maria Kristi, Director of Aviation Navigation of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Capt.

Then, Sigit Hani Hadiyanto, Director of the Rivolindo Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP), Head of the Center for International Partnership and Cooperation Facilitation (PFKKI) Fikry Cassidy, Head of the Communication and Public Information Bureau Hartanto, and the Indonesian Transportation Attach in Malaysia Capt. Supendi.