Alongside the New Capital, a New Port Constructed in Kotabaru

The government was preparing some infrastructures related to the relocation of the capital to Kalimantan. One of them was a port intended to be constructed in Kotabaru, Batulicin, South Kalimantan. The construction was marked by the signing of the concession agreement between the Harbourmaster Port Authority Office (Kepala Kesyahbandaran Otoritas Pelabuhan / KSOP) Class III Kotabaru-Batulicin, the Directorate-General of Maritime Transportation, Ministry of Transportation, and PT Pelabuhan Swangi Indah, conducted by the CEO of PT Pelabuhan Swangi Indah, Krismarsyaf Tambia in Jakarta on Friday (4/10/2019).

The construction of the port was revealed by the Chief of the Harbourmaster Port Authority Office (KSOP) Class II Kotabaru-Batulicin, Captain M. Hermawan, to be determined by the port’s adjacent location to the new capital. For the cooperation, it was hoped that it would help the national economic growth, especially for the local people. “We greatly hope that, through this agreement, there will be positive impact on local economy, by the creation of new jobs, as well as micro and macro businesses,” he stated as released by Warta Kota on Friday (4/10/2019).

The port was said to impact positively on the economic growth nationally, from micro to macro level. So, the development felt could develop South Kalimantan in future. He also hoped, with the existence of the Port Business Entity (Badan Usaha Pelabuhan / BUP) PT Pelabuhan Swangi Indah would stimulate other private BUPs, especially from South Kalimantan to invest in port sector, particularly in Port Kotabaru-Batulicin. “Moreover we currently know that the Province of South Kalimantan will be one of sustaining regions for the new capital in East Kalimantan,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the CEO of PT Pelabuhan Swangi Indah, Krismarsyaf Tamba said the concession agreement was a form of certainty for the private sector dealing with port sector. “This agreement is also proving that there is a healthy business competition, since there is no monopoly on this business, so whichever the private companies owning a BUP could develop its business by partnering with the government,” Krismarsyaf revealed. By cooperating, he continued, it could open opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially native sons, to develop their business in port sector. “And, of course, this leds to the improvement of local economies,” he said.

According to Krismarsyaf, the role of ports nowadays was very important and strategic to the industrial and trade growth, and was a business entity that gave contribution to the national development.