The Batam Administration (BP Batam) said construction of Batuampar Port that began in 2012 was 80 percent complete.

The port project, designed to support Batam'€™s function as a free trade zone, was expected to be completed by the end of the year, BP Batam spokesman Dwi Djoko Wiwoho said here on Friday.

With the completion of the Rp 360 billion (US$31 million) project, Batam would grow more competitive compared to other free trade zones in the Asia-Pacific region, Dwi said.

'€œBatam needs a larger port to facilitate exports and imports of industrial goods,'€ he said as quoted by Antara.

The port would have an annual capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), from 230,000 TEUs at present, he said.

'€œWe also will install modern cranes at the port like other modern ports in the world, to make loading and unloading faster,'€ he said.

In the future, a toll road would be built to link the port to industrial zones and Hang Nadim International Airport, he said.

A monorail system will follow to help transport workers from their homes to industrial estates.

BP Batam plans to build a 17.7 kilometer monorail between Tanjunguncang and Batam Center and a 19.6 kilometer monorail between Hang Nadim Airport and the Batuampar Seaport.

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