"With the connection of the new economic area, I am certain more investment will come in," the president noted in his speech at the inauguration of the Manado-Bitung Toll Road, Manado-Danowudu Section, via videoconference from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Tuesday.
The head of state affirmed that the Manado-Bitung Toll Road in North Sulawesi would foster more new businesses, so that job opportunities for the community would also increase and North Sulawesi would develop even further.
The president affirmed that with the existence of this toll road, logistics costs from the international port of Bitung can also be reduced, so it is more efficient.
Hence, the head of state believes that competitiveness will automatically increase and the special economic area of Bitung can also be developed to become more advanced.
"I think it is the governor's job to attract as much investment as possible to the special economic zone in Bitung," the president noted.
The Manado-Bitung toll road has a total length of 40 km. This toll road has several sections: 7.9-km Manado-Sukur, seven-km Sukur Airmadidi, seven-km Airmadidi-Kauditan, six-km Kauditan-Danowudu, and 12.6-km Danowudu-Bitung.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, affirmed that the Manado-Bitung toll road is the longest toll road in Sulawesi.
Minister Basuki noted that investment value for construction of the toll road totaled Rp5.12 trillion, the financing of which was conducted under a government-business entity cooperation scheme.
Basuki revealed that construction of the 15-km Manado to Airmadidi section will be funded from the PUPR Ministry's State Budget.
Meanwhile, construction of the 25-km Airmadidi to Bitung section was conducted by PT Jasamarga BUJT. Related news: President Jokowi inaugurates Manado-Danowudu toll road section
Related news: Jokowi to inaugurate Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road on Friday virtually
Translator: Rangga P, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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