VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumasi and South Korea’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Park Tae-sung, discussed more opportunities for further cooperation in the transportation sector at a meeting held here on Thursday.

The two discussed plans for entering into a partnership for building an integrated transportation system in Indonesia’s planned new capital in East Kalimantan province, as well as some ongoing investment projects in West Java, Riau Islands, and Bali.

At the meeting, the South Korean Ambassador expressed interest in some projects, including building a railway system in Bali; developing the Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, Riau Islands; and, investing in the Bekasi proving ground facility in West Java.

The Indonesian minister welcomed South Korea’s interest and said he expected the two countries to use more public private partnership (PPP) schemes for funding the projects.

Sumadi also welcomed South Korea’s ideas on building a more sustainable and low-emission transportation system in the country’s new capital city, although its construction has been suspended for now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister offered his South Korean counterpart an investment project on building a railway system in Indonesia’s new capital city.

“I invite and welcome ideas and investments from South Korea to support our smart and sustainable transportation system in the new capital city,” Sumadi said in a statement.

At the meeting, Sumadi also lauded scholarships offered by South Korea’s government to civil servants working in the Transportation Ministry of Indonesia.

He urged the two countries to expand the cooperation, one of which includes an exchange program for officials and experts in the transportation offices.

“I also personally invite Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, to give a public lecture at our Ambassadorial Lectures program organized by our academies,” Sumadi told the South Korean ambassador.