West Sumatra Administration: An Economic Gateway

By Barrie | December 5th, 2007 | No Comments

The West Sumatra administration is working to realize its vision of moving the province from agriculture to a service-based economy.The province has long intended to take steps to invite intra-provincial business and become a western gateway for Sumatra. This is partially because the province can’t compete with other regions in agriculture, as 60 percent of its lands belong to conservation zones.

To realize the plan, the administration will reinforce strategic infrastructure, tying together bridges, ports and airports.

“First we will repair the (road links) to Minangkabau International airport and Teluk Bayur harbor. We hope, by doing so, our neighbors can export products from Padang,” said Governor Gamawan Fauzi.

Overall, the projects, to begin next year, will cost an estimated Rp 842 billion (US$93.55 million). Funding will come from regional and national budgets.

Roads and bridges connecting the province with its neighbors — including Bengkulu, Jambi, Riau and North Sumatra — will be the focus.

“We expect these projects will be completed by 2009. Some of them have already been tendered,” Gamawan said.

“The funds from the regional budget will reach only Rp 232 billion and the rest will be put up by central government.”

Other projects will include the widening of a 145-kilometer road from Bukittinggi to North Sumatra — to cost Rp 145 billion, the completion of 400-meter Kelok Sembilan bridge connecting Padang and Pekanbaru — Rp 173 billion, and the construction of a 32-kilometer road in Kiliran Jao to cost Rp 90 billion.

The provincial administration will widen the western route road network from Bengkulu to North Sumatra, including roads on the Riau border. t will also construct a tsunami evacuation bridge in Batang Arau, Padang, at a cost of Rp 2 billion, and an elevated bridge to the airport worth Rp 75 billion.

The governor said the provincial administration would get an additional Rp 100 billion in funds from the national budget to expand Teluk Bayur port.

Meanwhile, a team from the Transportation Ministry and the office of the state minister for state enterprises is checking preparations for building a train tunnel connecting Solok to Teluk Bayur port. The planned railway to the port would be an alternative to the highway route, which is longer and prone flooding.

Dodi Ruswandi, head of West Sumatra’s infrastructure office, said the principal road networks linking Padang and cities like Bengkulu, Pekanbaru and Medan had been severely damaged by recent quakes.

“We hope the acceleration of the construction of the infrastructure will help speed up West Sumatra to realize its dream as a services province.”

Syofiardi Bachyul JB