The availability of seaports would facilitate the transport of goods ..."Morotai (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) left Morotai, North Maluku Province, for North Halmahera District at 9:15 a.m. East Indonesia Standard Time on Wednesday to inaugurate numerous seaports.
President Jokowi arrived in Morotai from West Papua on Tuesday to inaugurate several infrastructure projects, including a hybrid solar power plant and a micro-hydro electricity plant in the province.
After arriving in North Halmahera, the president and his entourage will head to Tobelo port to oversee the infrastructure facilities.
Later, the head of state will officially commission the ports of Tobelo Galela in North Halmahera, and Tutu Kembong, Wonreli, and Pulau Teor in Maluku Province.
President Jokowi had noted that ports were the key to successful economic development in the island region, especially in the isolated and frontier islands.
"The availability of seaports would facilitate the transport of goods and people in addition to helping advance the backward regions," he stated.
The president believes that the economic gap can be reduced through better distribution, and the absence of ports will hinder this process and make it difficult to identify the potential of the areas.
The prices of consumer goods in several areas of eastern Indonesia are much higher due to an inefficient distribution system.
Therefore, the president reiterated the importance of the sea toll project to facilitate transportation between the eastern region and the more developed western part of the country.
He emphasized the need to improve sea transport infrastructure and the movement of logistics between Sabang in the west and Merauke in the east of the country.
After commissioning the ports, the president will hand over social aid in the sub-district of Galela.
The president and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo will return to Morotai, and later in the day, the group will fly back to Jakarta aboard the presidential aircraft Indonesia-1. The presidential entourage is expected to arrive in the capital city at 6 p.m. local time.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
