Jokowi Urged To Realize His Maritime "Toll Road' Idea

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, July 24 (Antara) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) of the Kupang office has urged President-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to realize his idea of developing a maritime toll road for accelerating economic development in the country. "We hope that after his inauguration as president, Jokowi and his running mate will materialize his dream of developing a maritime toll road to accelerate economic development in the eastern region, including NTT," Kadin Chairman for East Nusa Tenggara Abraham Paul Lyanto stated here on Wednesday. Paul Lyanto made the statement in response to the expectation of all businesses grouped in the Kadin, especially its Kupang office, with regard to the election of Jokowi as the next president for the 2014-2019 period. "Jokowi`s dream and his promises during his pre-election campaign and the issues included in his vision and mission platform should really be implemented," Lyanto emphasized. He added that the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla vice presidential duo saw Indonesia`s potential as a maritime nation. Its maritime potential deserved to be developed. The Kadin has backed the proposal for a sea lane development program as the current maritime-based national connectivity scheme designed to boost economic development and growth has yet to be implemented. Kadin Chairman for Regional Economic Empowerment Natsir Mansyur remarked here on Monday that the failure to implement the maritime-based national connectivity program for boosting regional economy will create inefficiency in national economy. As the maritime-based connectivity does not exist, it had resulted in high costs of inter insular cargo transportation and logistics and low competitiveness. It has also caused a delay in the implementation of Presidential Instruction No. 26/2013 on National Logistics. He stressed that as an archipelago country, Indonesia should have strong maritime connectivity. The maritime connectivity program should be reinforced with short-sea shipping facility, which will help to transport goods from one island to the other. Natsir noted that Kadin supported the sea lane program proposed by the presidential and vice presidential candidate pair, Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla. The program will have an extensive impact on the development of regional economy. Yet, the program should be supported by medium-capacity ships with a dead weight tonnage of five thousand, he remarked. Natsir stated that the program will require about 500 ships of that size to transport bulk oil and gas, food, agricultural products, and other cargo. It should also be supported by adequate seaports. The Kadin chairman pointed out that the ships currently serving the country were relatively old, or were over 15 years, so they were no longer operating efficiently. Therefore, Natsir called on the relevant ministries to seriously take steps to realize the program, as it will boost the development of economic growth in the region. It will also help Indonesia in preparing itself in the face of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. The scheme proposed by Jokowi is a sea lane used by large-sized ships that transport cargo to every nook and corner of the country. This concept, according to his calculation, could reduce cargo transportation costs, which is believed to be effective in boosting the economy.