Investment Minister Upbeat Lebak to Become New Economic Growth Zone

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia is upbeat that Lebak District, Banten Province, will become a new economic growth zone, following the construction of a toll road connecting Jakarta and Lebak.

"The construction of the first segment of the toll road will be inaugurated in July 2021, while segments two and three will be parallel," Lahadalia said during a gathering with the Chairman of the Banten Provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mulyadi Jayabaya and ulamas (Islamic scholars) of Lebak on Saturday.

The construction of the toll road's segments two and three is expected to be completed in 2023, and one of the segements is built using a loan from China.

The existence of this toll road aims to develop a new economic growth zone and help improve the welfare of the people of Lebak.

The Investment Ministry will develop an industrial zone in an area measuring 3,000 hectares and located near the toll road gate, the minister said.

He said he and the Lebal development planning office (Bappeda) will also discuss development of an farming area in Lebak and seek cooperation of the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB University) for the project.

"We will look for investors soon to develop the 14-hectare aquaculture business," he said.

Meanwhile, Mulyadi Jayabaya said that he and the Minister of Investment plan to develop a patin fish (Siluriformes) aquaculture to boost the local economy, with the cooperation of local farmers.

"We hope that within two to three months Lebak will become a business center for patin fish cultivation and produce 700 tons of patin per month," he said.

Read: Jokowi Inaugurates Bahlil Lahadalia as Investment Minister

ANTARA