Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The planned Sunda Strait Infrastructure and Strategic Zone (KSISS) project is expected to boost the regional development, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said here on Thursday.

"We hope the bridge connecting Banten and Lampung Provinces will help speed up the regional development growth," the minister said after chairing a coordinating meeting on the constructions of Sunda Strait Bridge and Trans Sumatra Toll Road.

The projects have been regulated in a Presidential Regulation No. 86/2011 on the Development of Sunda Strait Infrastructure and Strategic Zone.

The strategic zone will include tourist resort and heavy equipment industries.

The KSISS has been included in the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan with international standard.

"It will become our national pride," Minister Rajasa said.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the planned longest bridge is expected to be held in late 2014.

Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said his ministry had conducted the bridge project`s feasibility studies concerning the wind, geological and volcanological aspects.

"We have involved foreign experts . The bridge is feasible technically, financially, economically and environmentally," he stated.

(F001/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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