Koreans serious about Indonesian port project

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

28 Dec 2007

Some Korean businesses are reportedly serious about developing South Sumatra's port of Tanjung Api-api in Banyuasin. A consortium of Korean companies has agreed to spend $20 million on a feasibility study for the project. According to the Mayor of Banyuasin, Amirudin Inoed, the move indicates the ''seriousness of the investors in developing Tanjung Api-api port.'' An earlier deal with Malaysia's Orient Technology International had fallen through due to reasons not revealed and Inoed has come out to guarantee that this latest co-operation will not be terminated like previously. Inoed expressed high hopes for the port's development to be a catalyst for the region's economic growth and the engine to drive employment for more than 20,000 workers. ''This is an international class project that needs lots of workers,'' he said. According to Inoed, pre-development processes (like the current feasibility study) is necessary to realize the plan. ''We want the consortium to sign the MOU as soon as possible so that all parties will be able to take part in the process,'' he said. Reports have also quoted Inoed maintaining that there are no problems with regards to the project's required land acquisition as Commission IV of the Indonesian parliament has approved the plan. “The next approval should come from the Forestry Ministry,'' he added.