T

he North Sumatra provincial administration plans to build a maritime business center at Belawan Port, near Medan, an official says.

Construction of North Sumatra’s first maritime business center will be carried out by PT Pembangunan Prasarana Sumatera Utara (PPSU), a provincial business entity, state-owned port management firm Pelindo I managing director Harry Sutanto said at the governor’s office in Medan on Friday.

He expressed hope that PPSU could immediately carry out the project at the Belawan Port.

Harry said that the physical construction of the maritime business center would include, among other things, offices, a hotel, restaurants and shopping mall.

He said the project was aimed at accelerating infrastructure development in the port sector.

“The project is aimed at expanding the shipping lanes at Belawan Port, including building a terminal at Kuala Tanjung Port in Batubara regency,” said Harry after signing a memorandum of understanding on the joint venture project between Pelindo I and PPSU.

The event was also attended by North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin.

Harry said that the joint venture would optimize the potential resources of Pelindo and the province.

The joint venture will also be a guide for organizing working plans that will be of mutual benefit to both parties and have a multiplying effect on the acceleration of development in North Sumatra in the future, he added.

“North Sumatra, which stretches along the Malacca Strait, is an area with great economic potential, especially in the maritime sector. The move to work with the provincial administration is a form of positive synergy to develop that potentials,” Harry said.

PPSU director Syarifullah Harahap said he was optimistic that the maritime business center would be completed soon as it would be a very effective way to boost locally initiated income (PAD).

“We have not yet calculated the targeted amount of PAD from its presence, but we are optimistic that the amount would be significant. We will use the services of independent consultants to calculate the amount,” said Syarifullah.