VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

East Java Governor Khofifah Indarparawangsa met President Joko Widodo on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta. After meeting the President, Khofifah explained that during the meeting, she reported two Drafts of Presidential Regulations which had been discussed between the East Java Provincial government and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. Both drafts are related to Gresik – Bangkalan – Mojokerto – Surabaya – Sidoarjo – Lamongan (Gerbangkertasusila) and Suramadu projects. In the Presidential Decree on Gerbangkertasusila, Khofifah explained that the East Java Provincial Government plans to build a megapolitan area that connects a number of cities in East Java, namely Gresik, Bangkalan, Mojokerto, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, and Lamongan. To support the development of the megapolitan area, Khofifah emphasized the importance of the aspect of connectivity.

"Then in the drafts, we want to reinforce how the connection between Gerbangkertasusila is connected, including the seaport that exists at some point. Because seaport is in Lamong Bay besides Tanjung Perak. Then in Lamongan there is also in Probolinggo and it is connected to the toll road. So that's the reinforcement that we want to get," she said.

Meanwhile related to the Suramadu Presidential Decree, Governor Khofifah Indarparawangsa said that the East Java provincial government hoped that with the Suramadu bridge connecting Java and Madura Island, Madura Island could be utilized for industrial development. In addition, according to her, the East Java provincial government also hopes that in Madura, Indonesian Islamic Science Park can be built. The park is hoped to become the center of the spread of Islam which can unite Islam internationally and Wasathiyyah Islam.

"We want that at the foot of Madura there is Indonesia Islamic Science Park. It needs about 101 hectare o land, 20 percent for education, 30 percent for art, and 50 percent for tourism. We hope that the Indonesia Islamic Science Park will become an international center for Islamic dissemination with Wasattiyah Islam, midline Islam, peaceful Islam, loving Islam," Governor Khofifah said.

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In addition to being the center of the spread of Islamic teachings, Khofifah also wants the Indonesian Islamic Science Park in East Java to later become the center of world Islamic finance. (VOI/Ndy / AHM / EDT)