TEMPO.CO, Kupang - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has promised to boost state-owned cement company PT Semen Kupang’s production to 1.8 million per year by improving a number of infrastructures, including ports.

“We will increase [the company’s production] capacity to 1.8 million per year,” Jokowi said when visiting the company on Saturday, July 25, 2015.

According to Jokowi, the capacity improvement must be supported with adequate infrastructures, such as ports and an additional plant development.

“The Semen Kupang III development has been initiated this year, and it is expected to be operational within three years,” Jokowi added.

Jokowi revealed that the government would provide Semen Kupang with a capital injection without specifying the amount. Jokowi said that the new plant development would open new job opportunities for local people and meet demands on cement in the province. Jokowi said that the product could also be exported to Timor Leste.

Currently, Semen Kupang has the capacity to produce 1,400 tons of cement per day, with an annual productivity of 400,000 tons.

“The production capacity is adjusted with the market demands. We can provide up to 35,000 tons [of cement] per month,” Wawan Gunawan, plant supporting general manager at PT Sarana Agra Gemilang, said.

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