Tour to Japan and China, RI offer 24 port projects

JAKARTA. During his current tour of Japan and China, Indonesian President Joko Widodo will offer 24 port development projects, which will be the pillars of the sea toll road infrastructure in the country, to investors.

"Yes, we will accelerate the implementation of the maritime axis development project," Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Board Andrinof Chaniago said here on Monday (23/3).

He added that so far, the government was still waiting for investors serious about participating in the projects, including ship procurement, which are totally worth Rp 700 trillion.

Besides sea toll road development projects, he stated that President Joko Widodo will also offer investment opportunities in the development of roads and power plant projects during his tour of the two Asian economic giants.

He admitted that the president's inclusion of China in his tour was because of its plan to develop the Silk Road as a trade connectivity network linking various regions in Asia to Europe and Africa.

"We wish to first see what Japan and China have to offer," he remarked.

Chaniago further noted that besides the 24 port development projects, the Indonesian government also planned to develop supporting infrastructure facilities for the sea toll road, such as short sea shipping and cargo facilities.

However, in 2015, the government will only focus on sea toll road projects in eastern Indonesian regions.