The city`s position will hold greater significance if the government`s plan is able to develop facilities ..."
Manado (ANTARA News) - The training of manpower in North Sulawesi is necessary for the development of the Bitung Special Economic Zone (SEZ), according to Secretary of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Peter Tappy.

"The development of the Bitung SEZ will need reliable and capable workforce, and hence, the training program for manpower in the province is very important," Tappy remarked here on Tuesday.

According to the Apindo secretary, the training of workers is something to be reckoned with, as until now, several investors are arriving in North Sulawesi, especially in the Bitung SEZ.

"If the local manpower lacks the required skills, then the investors from China or other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will bring their own manpower to the Bitung Economic Zone," he cautioned.

Hence, the Apindo secretary noted that the quality of human resources in North Sulawesi should be improved in order to make them as competitive as their counterparts from other countries.

Bitung Mayor Maximiliaan Jonas Lomban remarked that the city of Bitung could play the role of an Asian-Pacific gateway for Indonesia, as the port city is strategically located on the Pacific rim in North Sulawesi.

"The citys position will hold greater significance if the governments plan is able to develop facilities and supporting infrastructure in Bitung that will make it a competitive destination in the Asia-Pacific region," he emphasized.

He said Bitung will serve as a hub for various national strategic projects, and several national and international investors would want to utilize the citys facilities and infrastructure.

The mayor added that the big projects being built in the area in and around the city and others on the cards include the SEZ, Manado-Bitung toll road, Bitung International Ocean Going Ship Port, and the Makasar-Bitung rail track, which will automatically make the city a gateway to the Pacific region.
(Uu.O001/INET.SYS/A/KR-BSR/F001) 14-02-2017 14:57:19

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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