Aceh To Have New International Seaport

Banda Aceh, Oct 8 (Antara) - Aceh is waiting for a license from the finance minister to operate the Krueng Geukueh port in Lhokseumawe as a new port for exports and imports. "By the end of 2013, Krueng Geukueh will operate as an international port ," head of the provincial Communications Service Said Rasul said here on Tuesday. The port is expected to contribute to accelerating Aceh`s economic development, Rasul said. "We hope the private sector would play a greater role in the development of the port in the future," he said. He said the government will build various infrastructure projects to support the operation of the port to facilitate exports of various commodities from Aceh including coffee, areca nuts, cacao and other plantation commodities. Rasul said the seaport of Malahayati Krueng Raya in Aceh Besar has served to facilitate flows of goods to the provinces of 5 million people. "Malahayati is already operational to facilitate supply of goods mainly from Java to Aceh," he added. He said supporting infrastructure for the port of Malahayati Krueng Raya has continued to be built to facilitate cargo loading and unloading.