Gov’t Seeks to Designate NTT’s Tenau Port as International Seaport

President Jokowi meets reporters after an inspection visit to Tenau Port, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (21/8). (Photo by: Agung/PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has announced plan to transform Tenau seaport in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province into an international port as well as a hub in eastern Indonesia.

“Once the studies have been completed, we are going to materialize the plan,” the President said during a visit to Tenau Port, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (21/8).

According to the President, the port can accommodate up to 240,000 TEUs but only 110,000 TEUs is used, annually. “It means that there is still enough (remaining capacity) leeway,” he said.

President Jokowi also mentioned that there are six cattle ship routes, five of which are from East Nusa Tenggara. Annually, around 70,000 cows are transported from NTT province to Java island, especially to Jakarta and the surrounding areas, he added

“Previously, the ship was subsidized. (The amount) of subsidy (for transporting cattle) was Rp700 thousand (per head), and now, it is only Rp200 thousand. This is in accordance with our intention,” the President said.

On that occasion, the President also considered ideas to improve cargo ship activity.

“We can fill it with salt which will be in production next year and ship it to Java island. We can also consider sending frozen meat. This is what we hope,” the President said. (HEN/AGG/ES)

Translated by : Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Edited by : Rany A. Subachrum, M. Ersan Pamungkas