Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia During the Inauguration of Danowudu-Bitung Section of Manado-Bitung Toll Road at Bitung Toll Gate, Bitung City, North Sulawesi Province, February 25, 2022

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
Peace and prosperity be upon us,
Shalom.

Honorable Leadership of the House of Representatives and Speaker of North Sulawesi House of Representatives,
Honorable Ministers of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet, joining us today Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Minister of State Secretary, and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises,
Honorable Governor of North Sulawesi, Mayor of Bitung, and Mayor of Manado,
Honorable CEOs of SOEs, community leaders,

Distinguished Guests,

Thank God, let us say our praise and gratitude to Almighty God. This afternoon, the construction of 13.5-kilometer Danowudu-Bitung section of Manado-Bitung toll road was completed. Thus, the construction of the entire 39.8-kilometer Manado-Bitung toll road is complete and ready to support people’s activities in North Sulawesi province.

Earlier, the Governor said that this toll road cut Manado-Bitung travel time from the previous 1.5 hours to two hours. It took me 35 minutes without speeding. If we do, it should take about 30 minutes.

And, this toll road will facilitate delivery of logistics, mobility of goods and people from Manado to Bitung, Manado to Bitung International Port, and later Likupang Special Economic Zone (SEZ). If we reached Likupang, it is completed.

We hope through this toll road, new points of economic growth will emerge. And, we also hope economic growth in North Sulawesi will exceed that of the national growth after the province recorded economic growth that was above that national growth in 2021.

This concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.

And, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby officiate the 13.5-kilometer Danowudu-Bitung section of Manado-Bitung toll road.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
May God bless us.
Thank you.

(FI/EP)