Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Wani Port and Pantoloan Port in Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, March 27, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatulllahi wabarakaatuh.

Good morning,

May peace be upon us all.

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet;
Distinguished Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB);

Acting Governor of Central Sulawesi and all ranks of Central Sulawesi Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), Acting Regent of Donggala, religious and community leaders;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

We all know that two-thirds of our country is covered by water – seas and oceans. Thus, maritime and ports serve as a key to the development of our country’s economy. They are also important for the mobility of goods and people.

We also know that in 2018 tsunami wave and earthquake struck Palu city [and Donggala regency] in Central Sulawesi province. It caused damaged to ports. Thanks to our hard works, alhamdulillah, today we officiate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of port infrastructures in the area of Palu bay, namely Wani port and Pantoloan port.

The project was funded by the Asian Development Bank with a value of Rp233 billion and aimed to refunction the damaged ports affected by Tsunami and Earthquake, enhance the capacity of port services as a hub for logistic activities, improve regional connectivity, and boost economic activities in Central Sulawesi province.

I am really proud that the project has been completed. Earlier, Minister of Transportation said that it is necessary to provide services of RORO [Roll-on/roll-off] ships from Central Sulawesi province to East Kalimantan province in order to support the development process of the Nusantara Capital (IKN). I agree with that plan, considering that many construction materials, including stones and sand, are from Central Sulawesi. Almost all of them. The value is not just a billion, but a trillion. So, the development in East Kalimantan will also bring benefit to Central Sulawesi.

Therefore, facilities in ports must be improved. Our ports must be able to compete with other ports in other countries. Ports need to be reinforced with service standards, management standards, and technological standards, as well as equipped with integrated logistics services and other transportation modes to ensure faster and more efficient services. At this moment, everything is about competition. Thus, once again, it is all about competition. Speed is an important factor to seize the global share of economy.

That concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion. By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inagurate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Wani port and Pantoloan port.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(AP/LW)