GOVT OFFERS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WORTH US$4.5B

Jakarta, March 27 (ANTARA) - The government is ready to offer eight infrastructure projects worth US$4.5 billion to investors in the coming two to three months, a cabinet minister said.

National Development Planning Minister/National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Chairman Paskah Suzetta said the eight projects were part of 87 which could be carried out by investors.
"The eight projects are now ready to be launched in the coming two to three months," the minister said on the sidelines of the launch of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Book and the Government and Private Sector Cooperation Center at the Bappenas Building.
He said that of the 87 projects, there were 18 projects worth US$3 billion and 61 others worth US$26.5 billion which the government would give a priority.
Based on their types, the 87 projects consisted of 3 airport projects valued at US$1.41 billion, two ferry terminals amounting to US$94 million, five ports valued at US$997 million, 15 railroad projects (US$11.96 billion), 32 toll roads (US$15.25 billion), 20 drinking water projects (US$659 million), two garbage and sanitation projects worth US$120 million and eight energy projects valued at US$3.695 million.
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) hailed the readiness to be put out to tender of the eight infrastructure projects, hoping it would attract investors.
"If the rules of the game of the projects are clear, I think the projects would proceed immediately and would enhance employment in the country," Anindya Bakrie, KADIN chairman for telecommunications, information technology and media affairs said.
She said that there must be clear regulations with regard to the projects so that overlapping among one government agency to the other could be avoided.
"The rules on the implementation of the projects must be clear, beginning from the signing of the contracts, tender and up to the decision on the tender winners," she said.***