Jokowi Wants Development of Bitung Economic Zone Expedited
15 February 2017 07:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expects the development of Bitung Port in North Sulawesi, as part of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be fast-tracked which will see it turned into an international hub port and a gateway into eastern Indonesia.
“We all know that North Sulawesi province has a huge marine and fishery potential that is also one of the supporting factors to help Indonesia become a global maritime axis,” Jokowi said in a limited meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.
Jokowi believes that Bitung SEZ will underpin North Sulawesi economic growth.
“To make concrete contributions and [help] in the efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment, improve the prosperity of people in North Sulawesi,” he said.
The President added that the construction of transportation infrastructure in the province must also be accelerated. “It is the key to improving access and connectivity, as well as support growth in the tourism sector,” Jokowi said.
Transportation infrastructure would make it easier foreign tourist from, among others, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and China, to enter the region.
Jokowi also expects North Sulawesi to build on its marine tourism potential, adding that the central government will lend a hand to develop not only the famous Bunaken Marine Park, but other tourist attractions as well.
ANTARA
