"I asked them not to let Kalimantan become a `sleeping giant`"
Balikpapan, East Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has praised the development of East Kalimantan saying that the province can no longer be called a sleeping giant.

"I remember I first came to East Kalimantan in my capacity as a president eight years ago to talk with leaders in the region. At the time, I asked them not to let Kalimantan become a `sleeping giant` despite its huge potential. Fortunately, Kalimantan, especially East Kalimantan has advanced quickly," he said, after inaugurating the Kariangau International Container Port here on Wednesday.

The pace of development in East Kalimantan can be gauged by the business at the Sepinggan airport, according to President Yudhoyono, which has become the fourth busiest airport in the country.

"I hope it will become a strategic hub not only in Indonesia but also in East Asia in the future," he said, adding that he was extending the boundaries of East Asia to economically include business "from eastern Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand."

To support fast growth in the region President Yudhoyono dedicated two mega-projects and laid a cornerstone for the development of five projects worth around Rp19 trillion.

The two projects to be operated are the Kariangau international container port in Balikpapan and the Kalimarau airport in Berau district.

Five other projects to be carried out, meanwhile, are Sepinggan airport terminal in Balikpapan, PT Pupuk Kaltim V, the new Samarinda airport, the Maloy international port and industrial zone and the Mahakam IV bridge.

"I hope the five projects are completed to perfection," he said.

The seven projects comprise the third of six corridors in the Master Plan of the Acceleration and Extension of the Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI).

"I hope Maloy could also become a special economic zone," he said.

President Yudhoyono has set a target of investments worth Rp4,500 to Rp5,000 trillion until 2025 to boost economic development.

"Since it (MP3EI) was first launched in May 2011, Rp500 trillion has been spent until June 2012 and by the end of this year it is estimated that spending will increase by Rp200 trillion to a total of Rp700 trillion," he said.

Initially, many parties expressed doubts about the success of the program and considered it a mere image building project but the government has remained consistent with its conviction of its benefit.

"We formulated and carried out the plan because we believe it would bring concrete benefits to all. Firstly, our economy will continue to grow because of the program. Economic growth is important, especially now when the world is suffering from a recession. Secondly, with infrastructure and real sector development across Indonesia under the framework of MP3EI, more job opportunities will be created and unemployment will be reduced," he said.

On the occasion President Yudhoyono also expressed his conviction that Indonesia`s economy would continue to grow at a rate above six percent and the MP3EI would help growth, especially through investment.

"MP3EI must be made a success and to achieve it there must be a synergy between the central and regional governments, state-owned and private companies," he said.

He added that the government would actively conduct meetings with a number of foreign businessmen to promote the success of the MP3EI, adding that he would meet with a number of Japanese businessmen after the function.

President Yudhoyono appealed to regional governments to be more creative in developing their regions through fiscal decentralization and "East Kalimantan must be able to become a strategic economic growth centre."

East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak said that the investment for the development of the Kariangau international container port was worth Rp757 billion, while the Kalimarau airport cost almost Rp460 billion.

The Kaltim V fertilizer plant cost Rp6.1 trillion, the Sepinggan airport Rp1.8 trillion, the Maloy port and industrial zone Rp4.771 trillion, the new Samarinda port Rp1.9 trillion and the Mahakam bridge Rp252 billion.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012