Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Inauguration of Kayu Agung-Palembang-Betung Toll Road Section Kayu Agung-Palembang (Kramasan), 26 January 2021, at Kramasan Toll Gate, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon us all,

Distinguished Minister of Public Works and Public Housing and Presidential Chief of Staff,

Distinguished Speakers and Members of the House of Representatives Commission V,

Distinguished Governor of South Sumatra,

Distinguished Regents and Mayors joining this occasion,

Managing Director of State-owned Construction Firm Waskita Jaya,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Alhamdulillah, thank God the Almighty, Kayu Agung-Palembang Toll stretching 42.5 km has completed and is open for operation since today.

This toll road is core of Trans Sumatra Toll Road, the main backbone of southern Sumatra, and the last section that connects Bakauheni Port and Palembang.

Upon completion, this toll road can cut travel time from Bakauheni to Palembang spanning 373 km to 3 – 3.5 hours from the previous 12 hours. It is a huge leap since the road can cut travel time by 75 percent. This kind of efficiency will contribute to the significant decline in logistics cost and improve competitiveness for Palembang and Lampung regions.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

This toll road will not only build interregional connection, but also stimulate economy in Sumatra Island, particularly the South Sumatra Province. It is also projected to develop new centers for economic growth and to expand economic growth.

For that reason, I call on governors, regents, and mayors to connect the toll road with economic centers, tourism centers, industrial zones, agricultural centers, and plantation centers. Build the access to connect that areas, and it will bring great economic benefits. Those are the tasks of provincial government, regional governments. .

Along this roads, there are many plots of land that can be developed into a productive zone. There are huge potential that must be seized, such as on agricultural, plantation, tourism, mining sectors which will add economic value to local products.

I know that this toll road will open many opportunities that benefit us all. It is located near Java Island, it has many available land with affordable price, it has many manpower that can run business activities with competitive wage compared to other provinces and countries.

This is our effort to materialize equitable development and open as many as job opportunities in regions to improve people’s prosperity.

Lastly, I order regional governments at provinces, regencies, and municipalities to strongly promote potentials in their respective regions, and use this infrastructure to attract investors to develop South Sumatra Province.

I conclude this remarks. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I inaugurate the Kayu Agung-Palembang (Kramasan) Toll Road.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.