VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a contract for the construction of Port Patimban I for package 1 of container terminal construction and four-wheel vehicles worth Rp 6 trillion out of a total of Rp 8.9 trillion. The construction of port which includes in the National Strategic Project (PSN) will commence in the near future. In his speech at the signing of the contract for the Port of Patimban Package I project in Jakarta on Friday, July 27, 2018 Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi said the Patimban Port project signifies the close relationship between Indonesia and Japan which this year is celebrating the 60th anniversary.

“Patimban Port is one of the National Strategic Projects according to Presidential Regulation No. 47. It is a Strategic Project in Subang, West Java. And we know that this project is a project with Official Development Assistant or ODA Loan from Japan and signifies a close relationship between Indonesia and Japan, marking 60 years of relations between Indonesia and Japan,” Budi Karya Sumadai said.

On the same occasion, Economic Counselor of Japanee Embassy to Indonesia, Mari Takada, said that his side will commit to the cooperation of Patimban Port because it will help the Japanese economy considering the location of the port is very close to the manufacturing area of ​​Japanese companies in Indonesia. Many Japanese companies set up manufacturing plants in Cikarang, (Bekasi District), Karawang, and Purwakarta in West Java which distance from Patimban Port is less than 150 km. According to Takada, Patimban Port has the advantage of being able to unravel the congestion that has occurred along the distribution channel to Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta. Meanwhile, on the demand for more dominant operator of the Japanese consortium, Takada said it follows in accordance with the agreement with the Government of Indonesia. He said the Government of Indonesia and Japan agreed to cooperate with the operation, he also hoped the private sector would be involved. Indonesia and Japan have agreed to operate together with Patimban in a consortium in which Indonesian companies own 51% of the shares, while Japanese companies own 49% of the shares. (VOI / Rezha/AHM)