"Yes, we plan to develop 24 seaports in the next five years and that is why we visit Tianjin because the port here is the biggest and has already had a blueprint for its development in the next 50 to 100 years," he said in the train that took him from a visit to Tianjin to Beijing here on Sunday.
He said the visit to Tianjin was important with regard to information about regional development.
He praised Tianjins fast development and planned industrialization program.
"Tianjin is able to grow very fast because it is supported by industries, a port, a power plant, infrastructure, transportation and other facilities. This is what we are looking for. We will implement it at home," he said.
President Joko Widodo or Jokowi as he is popularly called is currently in China to attend an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) summit.
Regarding port development in the country President Jokowi said investment for it would be started next year.
He said he would push private investors and state-owned companies to carry it out. However if none is ready he said he would use funds from the budget for it.
President Jokowi estimated up to Rp70 trillion would be needed for the project.
He said the ports to be developed later had better be integrated with a power plant and an industrial zone so that production cost could be made lower or efficient and competitive.
"This is why their (Chinese) products have so far been very competitive, cheap and efficient and this is also what we have always wanted to know so far. It is because the port, power plant and the industrial zone are integrated," he said.
Tianjin which is populated by 14.1 million people is home to important industries such as petrochemical, textile, car and iron industries.
Its port is also the biggest in the countrys northern region and the most important maritime access for Beijing.***2***
reporting by GNC Aryani
(L.C003*M041/H-YH/H-YH)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
