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Govt lures investors to build ports in Maluku
The government plans to invite private investors to speed up the development of ports to be built under the Trans Maluku project in the province, a senior government official has said
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he government plans to invite private investors to speed up the development of ports to be built under the Trans Maluku project in the province, a senior government official has said.
Deputy Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono said in Ambon on Saturday that the private investors were needed to speed up the project.
“The project is quite important to spur economic growth in Maluku, which consists of many small islands,” he told reporters after the inauguration of several ports in the province.
The government is currently developing a transportation system project called Trans Maluku to connect islands within the province.
The project, which started in 2004, is scheduled for completion in 2013. The project includes the construction of 40 ports and the operation of 24 passenger ferries.
However, due to a lack of funds, only 12 ports of the planned 40 have been built, and only 16 ferries have begun operating.
According to Bambang, without the support from investors it would be difficult to complete the project on schedule.
“The problem is that the government does not have a sufficient budget to finance land transportation projects.
That’s why the involvement of private companies is needed to support the Trans Maluku project,” he said.
According to Bambang, the private companies might be allowed to build ports under a public-private partnership scheme being promoted by the government.
Under such a cooperation, the private companies would be allowed to operate the ports in conjunction with the local government.
Maluku Governor Karel Albert has said the central and local governments were sharing the cost of the Rp 6.7 trillion project. “But it is difficult to get all of the funding from the government’s budget,” he added.
On Saturday, the government officially opened several ports in Ambon as part of the Trans Maluku project.
They include two ports in Wahai, Central Maluku Regency, and in Dobo, Aru Regency. Also, two new ferries were launched — Teluk Ambon and Torpedo Cantika”.
The government also inaugurated new passenger facilities at three ports in Sewaru, Ilwaki and Hila.
Governor Karel said that the expansion of the ports and other transportation was needed to attract investors to do business in the province.
