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Visit to Tanjung Banon indicates Eco-City development is near
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto chaired the 29th Indonesia – Malaysia – Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Ministerial Level Meeting in Batam city on Friday.
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oordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto chaired the 29th Indonesia – Malaysia – Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Ministerial Level Meeting in Batam city on Friday. The collaboration was first initiated three decades ago as a partnership forum that prioritizes regional economic development to reduce disparities and increase competitiveness and community welfare in the region.
In between the meetings, Minister Airlangga was also able to pay a visit to Tanjung Banon village, located in the southern part of Rempang Island, Riau Islands province. He was warmly welcomed by the community, as well as traditional and religious leaders who had been waiting enthusiastically for the group's arrival at the Al Ikhsan Tanjung Banon Mosque.
"Regarding the development on Rempang Island, in essence we all really support the development on Rempang Island, whether it is carried out by the government, state-owned companies or the private sector. Moreover, it has become a National Strategic Project,” said Gerishman Ahmad, a community leader. “On the other hand, I also hope that the minister, as an extension of the central government, will also pay attention to the dignity of the people."
The visit gave the people an opportunity to express the hopes they have for the community and enabled the opening of a dialogue with Minister Airlangga to accept the aspirations of the community and convey the aim and purpose of his visit. He also appreciated the agreements that had been obtained from previous meetings between the people of Rempang Island and the government, as he hoped for more collaboration in the future.
Furthermore, he stated that the visit was also to see the readiness and carrying capacity of expanding the proposed location for communities affected by the development of the Rempang Eco-City to be developed with better infrastructure.
"The President's first directive is of course in the interests of the people and to be fair to the people. And secondly, so that the people here will also obtain property rights certificates, especially so that those who currently live here will also be given their rights," Minister Airlangga explained.
The proposed development will also be carried out by taking into account the interests relating to the daily livelihoods of the community, who are mainly fishermen and farmers. Therefore, Minister Airlangga expressed his hope that housing and infrastructure development, including water and electricity, could be carried out immediately.
His statement was welcomed by the community, who had been eagerly waiting for the regional expansion, however they needed more certainty. To meet their requests, Minister Airlangga said that they will prepare a Presidential Decree to ensure safe and sustainable development in the area.
