Jokowi To Build Airport In Halmahera

Ternate, N Maluku, May 8 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said here on Monday that he would build a representative airport in the island of Halmahera in the country`s eastern province of North Maluku to connect it with other regions in Indonesia.

He said he had ordered the minister of transportation to build the airport in addition to increasing the frequency of ships` arrivals in the region.

"(We will build) a representative airport that medium planes can land on. It is not necessary to build the one for wide-bodied aircraft as what is important is routine arrivals of planes," he said, after symbolically handing over land certificates to the people in eight districts and cities in the province.

In connection with the plan, Jokowi has ordered the minister of transportation, the governor of North Maluku, and district heads to determine the site for the project.

"I just made the decision that a good airport must be built here like the one in Ternate," he stated.

Jokowi visited the region as part of his tour to the archipelago starting from Aceh in the east and ending in Papua.

He expressed hope that with the airport, people need not go to Ternate but can land in Halmahera if they wish to visit North Maluku in future.

Jokowi had ordered the minister of transportation to be quick to act so that the airport could be completed within two years.

"Discuss it, but do it quickly so that mobility of goods and people could be carried out immediately," he remarked.

He also called for good maintenance of the ports in a ceremony to mark the inauguration of three seaports in Tepeleo.

"Prevent illegal levies. If you find them just report to me. (They must be eradicated) so that they would not give additional burden to the people of North Maluku," he revealed.

North Maluku governor Abdul Gani Kasuba expressed appreciation to Jokowi for his efforts to enhance connectivity of the regions by developing infrastructure facilities such as sea bridges and representative airport in the region.

"North Maluku has around 800 islands spreading in 10 districts/cities. It is hoped the president's visit will create a positive impact on the region, especially for the development of roads and bridges to boost the economy of the people in North Maluku," he asserted.