Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of the Binjai-Langsa Toll Road Section 1 (Binjai-Stabat), at the Stabat Toll Gate, Stabat District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province, February 4, 2022

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Peace and prosperity be upon us all.

Thank God, today, the 11.8-kilometer Binjai-Stabat section, Section 1 of the Binjai-Langsa Toll Road, is ready to be operational to support smooth connectivity. This toll road section is part of the 131-kilometer Binjai-Langsa Toll Road. And, once it is fully completed, this toll road will connect North Sumatra province with Aceh province. This toll road is also part of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road, connecting Lampung and Aceh provinces.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
National roads that connect provinces will connect production centers, areas with great potential. It will also open up new business opportunities, especially in areas around the toll roads.

This morning, I just saw an orange production center in Karo regency.  If the toll road is connected to those production centers, connected to tourism areas, connected to agricultural and plantation areas, and the road is this smooth, the cost structure in the commodity price, such as the orange, the price will be very competitive. I can guarantee that it can compete with the price of those imported.

Our products often lose to imported goods because our prices are too high. And, the price is too high due to high logistics costs, high transportation costs. And earlier we see that, when we saw the oranges, once the road is repaired, what percentage will the logistics/transportation costs drop, Sir? Seventy-five percent. We’re heading there.

It’s not only a physical structure. The people will benefit. The farmers will benefit. Those in tourism sector will benefit if they are all connected. The main toll road should be connected to productive areas.

In addition to providing speed in inter-district and inter-provincial connectivity, this toll road will also facilitate access to various tourist destinations in the province. For example, the Bukit Lawang tourist area in Bahorok district, the Tangkahan tourist area, the Tuan Guru spiritual tourist area in Tanjung Pura, Langkat regency. And, this is a very good opportunity to develop potentials existing in the region, the potentials managed by the local communities.

I believe through the progress of the infrastructure, we can develop the potentials existing in the region, such as what I previously mentioned, agriculture, tourism, plantations, fisheries, and others. I trust that this good infrastructure will be used as well as possible to encourage new businesses, increase employment, and improve people’s welfare.

This concludes my remarks. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate the Binjai-Langsa Toll Road Section 1 Binjai-Stabat.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(FI/MUR)