Timika (ANTARA News) - An Indian investment company Bothra Group has indicated interest in building a new international port in Paumako, Timika, Papua.

Valkyn Clive Dmello, the president director of Jaldhi Marine Services of the Bothra Group said Jaldhi already surveyed the Paumauko harbor.

The company hopes for support from the district administration to build an international seaport in Paumako, Dmello told ANTARA News here.

"We are interested in cooperating with the Mimika district administration to build an international class port in Paumako. We believe if Timika has a good port, the district economy would grow rapidly," he said.

He said Jaldhi Marine Services has a representative office in Jakarta and has been in operation in the past four years.

Jaldhi Marine Services already has experience in building fertilizer , coal, oil and container ports and warehouses in India and a number of other countries in Africa, America, etc.

One of the ports the company has built is the Kakinada port in India.

The company also has representative offices in China and Singapore, and currently it is building a seaport in Jambi, Sumatra.

"The condition in Kakinanda is almost the same as in Timika. Previously Kakinanda was a small town without port. But after the port has been in operation the city grew fast in economy. Timika is highly potential, therefore, we are interested in building an international port there," Dmello said.

He said the cost of building a port in Paumako could reach Rp500 billion to Rp1 trillion.

Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng welcome the interest shown by the Indian investor.

"We already provide the location . They only need to invest in Timika. We hope they are serious and start soon," Eltinus said.

He said the Paumako harbor is one of the busiest ports in Papua.

It needs to be developed into an international port. All goods needed by the people in the interior districts are supplied via the port of Paumako Timika, he said.

"Mimika shares borders with 15 other regencies including Asmat, Yahukimo, Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Paniai, Deiyai and Dogiyai and all essential goods needed by the districts are supplied via Timika," he said.

He said the port of Paumako is being build to become a special cargo port, adding the one to be built by the Indian investors is a passenger port.

He said if the Indian investor began construction in July or August, Timika would have an international port in two years.
(Uu.H-ASG/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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