With investments of $1.2 billion and its strategic location, Kuala Tanjung Port in North Sumatra is undergoing an ambitious infrastructure upgrade and aims to be among the world’s top 30 seaports in the world.
Upon completion, the port will be able to operate as a transit hub for shipments headed to Europe. Equipped with modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology, authorities are confident Kuala Tanjung will be able to compete with the Port of Singapore, the largest and busiest such hub in Southeast Asia.
“When we talk about the maritime sector in Indonesia, we are happy nowadays with the new government. President Joko Widodo and his staff are focusing on the maritime business as the ocean makes up 80 percent of Indonesia’s geography,” said Mr. Pasoroan Herman Harianja, President of the Indonesian Maritime Pilot’s Association (INAMPA) and former Director of the Indonesia Port Corporation 1 in Medan.
Plans to optimize the use of ports and the maritime sector are crucial to the growth of the Indonesian economy, according to Pasoroan.
Indonesia will benefit greatly from this project, as it will significantly cut the transport time and increase handling capacity for exports of the country’s valuable commodities, such as coal, coffee, palm oil, rubber.
When fully operational, Kuala Tanjung Port will provide a strategic alternative to other major ports in the region, supporting the government’s objective to slash transport and logistics costs.
