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‘Tol laut’ program boosts distribution of supplies
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A maritime highway ship berths at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java. (tempo.co/File)
T
he tol laut (maritime highway) program has managed to boost the distribution of supplies in the last three years, an official has said.
Citing data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Transportation Ministry sea transportation director general Wisnu Handoko said in Jakarta on Tuesday that, in 2015, the nationwide distribution of supplies was recorded at 238 million tons, while in 2018 the figure rose to 279 million tons.
“The tol laut program has progressed significantly, contributing to the increase of national distribution,” he said as quoted in a statement.
Wisnu said the government encouraged the program operator to not only transport goods from port to port, but also to locations that were closer to customers.
“It will help achieve the government target of lowering prices so that goods are more affordable,” he said, adding that, in cooperation with the Nusantara Maritime Research Institute (MARIN), the government would look into distributing goods to villages.
He said the program as an expansion of the toll road program would help boost the economy in villages, reduce economic disparity and ensure that people in remote areas have access to basic needs.
Wisnu also said his office had cooperated with Pelindo Marine Service in Surabaya, a subsidiary of state-owned port operator PT Pelindo III, to prepare mini-containers that could be transported using village roads. (bbn)
