VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has ordered the extension of Ferdinand Lumban (FL) Tobing Airport's runway in Sibolga, Central Tapanuli district, North Sumatra province.

"When I had just descended from the plane at the airport, the Central Tapanuli district head proposed the extension of the runway. (The Sibolga) mayor also proposed the extension of the runway to enable wide-bodied planes to land," the president said while inaugurating Sibolga port in Central Tapanuli on Sunday.

The president further ordered Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi who was also present at the inauguration ceremony to extend the airport's runway.

"How many flights are there from Jakarta (to Sibolga) everyday? There are one flight (from Jakarta) and two to three flights from other regions. I hope the number could be increased to more than seven to boost the economy," he said.

The government was encouraging the growth and improvement of land, sea and air transportation services, he said.

"Mr. Transportation Minister will calculate it (the cost) so not only sea transportation but also air transportation will grow. The palm oil and mining industries here begin to grow well and that we must pay attention to facilities related to land, sea and air transportation services," he said.

He believed that after the central government had built infrastructures regional governments could prepare new economic growth centres.

"Our task is preparing infrastructures, while the tasks of provincial, municipal and district governments is preparing new economic growth centers. I believe there will be more companies engaged in mining, palm oil and fishery sectors here the more so because facilities including processing units have been built," he said.

State port operator PT Pelindo 1 has completed the construction of Sibolga port including the arrangement of multi-purpose terminal, the expansion of pier for containers and general cargoes, the expansion of ferry pier, the construction of container yard and the instalation of fix crane.

Also present at the inauguration ceremony were First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Chief of the Presidential Staff Moeldoko, North Sumatra Governor Utara Edy Rahmayadi, Deputy Chief of the Golkar Party's Honorary Council Akbar Tanjung, Pelindo 1 President Director Bambang Eka Cahyana, Central Tapanuli District Head Bakhtiar Ahmad Sibarani, and Sibolga Mayor Syarfi Hutauruk. (ant)

Indonesia through the Ministry of Tourism participated in the 2019 Matta Fair International exhibition in Hall 3, Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) Kuala Lumpur, which was held on March 15-17, 2019.

"Participation in this annual activity is one of the efforts to continue the promotion program of the Ministry of Tourism which focuses on 'branding' and 'selling'," said Deputy Minister of Marketing Development, Rizki Handayani in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday.

Rizki said Indonesia's participation in this activity was to promote and maintain the existence of Indonesian tourism in the world, especially the ASEAN region, in addition as an effort to continue the Ministry of Tourism's program promoting "Wonderful Indonesia".

"Malaysia is the main market focus of concern from the Ministry of Tourism in its efforts to promote tourism to ASEAN countries.

At this year's participation, Indonesia presented a 180-square-meter pavilion with the main theme of Banyuwangi which raised the architecture of the Osing house and the atmosphere at the Sabha Swagata Blambangan Hall, "he said.

Participants who joined the Indonesian booth consisted of 22 Indonesian tourism industries (travel agents / tour operators, hotels and tourist attractions) representing the destinations of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, DI Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali and West Nusa Tenggara.

"They will bring tour packages which of course are ready to be offered to buyers through cooperation with local Malaysian travel agents. The travel agent industry, hotel and resort industry agents will intensify promotions and business meetings with buyers or customers who come, "he said.

Aside from being a place to promote tourist destinations in Indonesia, the 2019 Matta Fair is also expected to generate potential transactions for tour packages in an effort to bring Malaysian tourists on a large scale to Indonesia.

The program in the Indonesian pavilion is held by the Indonesian tourism industry, information services and distribution of tourism promotion materials by the ministry of tourism, New Indonesia Destination Corner which will elevate Banyuwangi and Lake Toba destinations, Gimmick and Gift Redemption, Coffee & Refreshment Corner which will serve delicious coffee and snacks typical of Banyuwangi, and Photobooth Corner.

MATTA Fair 2019 is a potential place to continue the promotion program of the Ministry of Tourism which focuses on "branding" and "selling" because it is a "business to customer" exhibition that enables industry players in Indonesia to expand their market networks and offer Indonesian tourism packages with through its local partner in Malaysia.

"The promotion that has been focusing on" selling "has begun to be balanced with 'branding' again. Especially for two new destinations, namely Banyuwangi in East Java and Lake Toba in North Sumatra.

Making use of direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Banyuwangi by Citilink which has been opened since December 19, 2018 The Ministry of Tourism is very aggressively promoting Banyuwangi destinations to the Malaysian market as a choice of themed attractions exploring nature, relax and heritage, "he said.

As for Lake Toba, by utilizing the plan to reopen AirAsia's direct flight routes from Kuala Lumpur to Lake Toba in April 2019, the Ministry of Tourism is still consistent in promoting it to the Malaysian market as a tourist destination that is also themed 'exploring culture and nature,' he said.

On Sunday (17/3), On his working visit to Sibolga, President Joko Widodo and Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo review the site bombings in Sibolga, North Sumatra Province. The President and the first lady also visited the victims whose houses damaged by the bomb blast on Wednesday (13/3).

President was shocked by the suicide bombings carried out by a woman, the wife of unforeseen terrorist Hussain namely Abu Hamza, at the district os Sibolga Sambas, City of Sibolga, in North Sumatra Province last Wednesday. He also visite the camp for the displaced persons after the bomb blast. He handed the aid of 1.4 billion Rupiah for the victims. (sekkab)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana paid a one-day working visit to Sibolga, North Sumatra Province, for inauguration of Silboga port on Sunday.

The president and entourage arrived in Ferdinand Lumbang (FL) Tobing Airport in Central Tapanuli District on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by senior politician of Golkar Party Akbar Tanjung and Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

Members of the presidential entourage included Chief of the Presidential Staff Moeldoko, North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi, and Chief of the North Sumatra Police Insp. Gen. Agus Andrianto.

At the inauguration on Sunday, President Joko Widodo said that reactivating of the port of Sibolga and can accomodate around 20 thousand TEU. The port also serve the ships of 6 .000 Gross Ton from only 2.000 Gross Ton.  

In 2016, Jokowi laid the first corner stone for the expansion of Sibolga port development project.

The development aspects included construction of a 153-m multifunction pier, a container yard, trestle and breasting dolphin, fix crane facility, and a 400 m2 ferry pier and a three-storey Sibolga port terminal measuring 300 m2.

In the future, the Sibolga port will also have a liquid bulk port facility for crude palm oil (CPO) distribution. (ant, sekkab)