Indonesia and Japan share sound relations that have lasted for over six decades, he remarked.
"The two countries have agreed to improve cooperation in various sectors, including transportation," he noted in a statement on Tuesday.
On arrival in Japan, Sumadi and other officials were welcomed by Indonesian Ambassador in Tokyo Heri Akhmadi.
The minister will meet Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Mori Masafumi, Japanese Transportation Minister Saito Tetsuo, and Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Maeda.
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"We will also communicate with the Japanese government to encourage their private corporations to participate in several transportation infrastructure projects in Indonesia," Sumadi noted.
Three infrastructure development projects become the focus of discussion: North-South and East-West MRT project, Phase 1-2 (Package 5 and 6) Patimban Harbor, and proving ground construction.
The construction of transportation infrastructure should be continued to facilitate connectivity between regions, create new economic points, and new civilizations.
"Amid fiscal limitation, we need to become more active in seeking creative funding outside of the state budget that involves the national and foreign private sector, so that development can continue," he affirmed.
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Investment done in cooperation with foreign parties, such as Japan, is expected to not only expedite the development process physically but also provide multiplier effects in the form of improving the national human resource quality through technology transfer, creating a wide range of jobs, and realizing regional and global peace and stability.
On Wednesday, the minister is scheduled to meet with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Yamanaka Shinichi, former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, as well as President & CEO of Toyota Tsusho Corporation Kashitani.
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Translator: Adimas R F P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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