"The ministry will follow up on the request of Aceh Acting governor Achmad Marzuki to develop a dry port, and he will personally observe the site later," Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated on the sidelines of the coordination meeting on the transportation sector at the Aceh Governor Office here, Friday (February 3).
He affirmed that the ministry would focus and be heedful of the development of the dry port in the district, which is part of the Gayo Highland, famous for its coffee.
Meanwhile, Acting Governor Marzuki highlighted the need for a dry port in the central Aceh region to optimize the export of the region's main products, such as coffee.
The issue of lacking commodity storage in Bener Meriah District should be addressed so as to help enhance the export process and ensure the commodity's authenticity, he noted.
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Marzuki stated that the district authority had earmarked a 3.7-hectare plot of land for the dry port development, and ministry officials had observed the site to conduct an assessment for the dry port development.
The tripartite meeting between the provincial authority, Transportation Ministry, and Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs on the matter had been organized last month, he remarked.
The acting governor also expressed gratitude for the minister's commitment to realizing the development of a dry port in Aceh.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Ulee Lheue Port in Banda Aceh on the same day, Sumadi expressed his side's commitment to developing ports in Aceh to improve connectivity and bolster regional economic development.
"Aceh Sea has huge potential by having its connectivity improved to help make (commodity) prices more competitive," the minister stated.
While committing to improving ferry transport facilities to Aceh islands, including to Sabang -- the westernmost Indonesian city -- in Weh Island, he also urged the acting governor to map all ports in Aceh.
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Translator: M Ifdhal, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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