The Pontianak seaport is expected to support the downstream and industrialization programs which are intensively carried out by the government in order to obtain multiple added values, both in the forms of state revenues and the creation of wider job opportunities.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Kijing Terminal of Pontianak Seaport in Mempawah district, West Kalimantan province, which was inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Tuesday, is expected to boost the province's competitiveness.

The construction of the Kijing Terminal has gone through a very good feasibility study, the head of state said when answering reporters' questions after the inauguration.

The Kijing Terminal began the construction in 2016 and was completed in May 2022 with a budget of 2.9 trillion rupiahs (some 195.3 million U.S. dollars).

Pontianak Seaport is the largest port on Kalimantan island, with a capacity of 500,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and eight million non-containers.

President Jokowi added that West Kalimantan has abundant natural resources, including crude palm oil, alumina and bauxite.

Therefore, the port is expected to support downstream and industrialization programs that are intensively carried out by the government in order to obtain multiple added values, both in the forms of state revenues and the creation of wider job opportunities.

Pontianak Seaport is also hoped to increase the speed, connectivity, and efficiency of logistics shipping which is one of the determining factors in raising Indonesia's competitiveness in the global market.

Furthermore, the president likewise conveyed the possibility of investment from abroad to take advantages of the port as well as to develop the potentials in West Kalimantan.

"Later, there will be capital inflows, which will strengthen our economy because West Kalimantan has great potentials, especially crude palm oil, bauxite, alumina, and other plantation products," he said.

The areas around the port could be developed for various industries that require sea transportation system supports, Jokowi added.

"What is clear is that this facility will strengthen the competitiveness of production processes in West Kalimantan," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window