Indonesia Should Catch Up With Mass Transportation Development, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung are about to start a limited meeting on Tuesday (25/7), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

The Government should realize that Indonesia is still far behind compared to other countries in terms of mass transportation development and services, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said during a limited cabinet meeting discussing the development of the High Speed Train Project at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Tuesday (25/7).

Therefore, the President said that it takes courage to develop mass transportations, including mass rapid transportation (MRT), light rapid transportation (LRT), and other forms of transportation. The President also reminded related stakeholders that the Government should think ahead because transportation technology is now growing rapidly.

During the meeting, the President also cited the example of a high speed train project involving hyperloop that is still being discussed by Indonesia and other countries.

“We can’t lose the momentum,” the President added.

Regarding high speed train, President Jokowi said that the matter was discussed in several meetings and  during the meeting, the President hoped to hear reports on the development on the ground, both for high speed train connecting Jakarta and Bandung, and Jakarta and Surabaya.

Also attending the limited meeting were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Panjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/ Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Indonesian Defense Forces Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, West Java Governor Ahmad Heriyawan, Managing Director of State-owned Train Operator PT KAI Edi Sukmoro, Managing Director of State-owned Firm Jasa Marga Desi Arryani, Managing Director of Indonesian-Chinese joint venture PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) Hanggoro Budi Wiryawan, Managing Director of State-owned Plantation Firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VIII Bambang Murtioso, Managing Director of State-owned Construction Firm PT Wijaya Karya Bintang Perbowo, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Rector Kadarsah Suryadi, and other officials.

(FID/JAY/RAH/ES) (RA/EP/YM/Naster)