"Initially, it was planned to export around 160 thousand from here this year. However, considering the progress in the past three months, it looks like the exports could be increased to 180 thousand cars," President Jokowi stated at Patimban Port here on Tuesday.
President Jokowi visited Patimban Port to inspect the dispatch of car exports to several countries.
Also present on the occasion were Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kenji Kanasugi, and other relevant officials.
Patimban Port began exporting vehicles on December 17, 2021, and as of March 8, 2022, 24 thousand completely built-up (CBU) vehicles had been exported.
"Patimban Port has been operating since last December, 3 months ago, and I am happy that after the operation, cars continue to be exported from Patimban Port," President Jokowi stated.
The cars are being exported to the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, and Vietnam.
"I think this is the beginning. Later, it will be expanded to other countries, so that in one month or so, 15 thousand cars can be exported from here," Jokowi affirmed.
The president is optimistic that the rise in exports would help to boost the Indonesian economy.
"This will be very good, thereby translating to the fact that our industry will continue to move despite the pandemic. In spite of the pandemic, we will continue to export, and we hope that this would contribute to our country's economic growth and open up the widest possible employment opportunities," he emphasized.
So far, Patimban Port has facilitated export activities to Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan.
Patimban Port is one of the National Strategic Projects (PSN), which has an important role in supporting economic growth in the West Java region and also nationally.
The port's facilities comprise a container dock of 420m x 34m, vehicle dock of 300m x 33m, vehicle storage area of capacity of 218,000 CBU, container stacking field of capacity of 250,000 TEUs, reclamation area spanning 60 hectares, dredging pond (-10 m), port road, and administrative buildings.
Translator: Desca LN, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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