GOVT OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR TO BUILD SUNDA STRAIT BRIDGE

Jakarta, Apr 15 (ANTARA) - The government has opened the widest opportunities for private businesses to take part in the building of various infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including the Sunda Strait bridge.

The President in his address opening the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Government-Private Sector Cooperation in Infrastructure Development 2010 at the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran area on Thursday believed that the building of the Sunda Strait bridge will have a very great impact on economic growth in Asia.

"Considering the importance of private participation in realizing the major project, the Indonesian government is offering the building of the Sunda Strait badge in the book on Public Private Partnership: Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia 2010-2014," he said.

The bride, the President said, not only connects two islands with the largest population in Indonesia but may also increase relations among countries in Asia.

The President said the government has prepared the necessary infrastructure network of the Sunda Strait bridge which will link Java and Sumatra islands and will be integrated with its surrounding areas.

The Head of State also said the Indonesian government has applied a two-lane policy in the last few years which had successfully facilitated and accelerated the building of infrastructure projects and facilitated the building of partnership between the government and private businesses.

Under this pattern the government has decided that the building of infrastructure with State Budget funding in the first lane, and the government inviting private businesses to take part in the building of infrastructure, in the second lane.

"By way of the two lanes, the building of infrastructure is aimed at strengthening domestic connectivity especially in the islands," he added.

He also said that one of the priority program in the building of infrastructure will be focused on road and bridge construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance especially on the trans highways in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi,West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua by 2014.

The President on the occasion also said pointed to some of the successful infrastructure projects in Indonesia including the extension of national roads from 343 thousand kilometers in 2004 to 391 thousand kilometers in 2009.

In addition, in the border regions roads 670.2 kilometers and 571.8 kilometers long had been built in the outer islands.

He also said that the Indonesian government have taken the necessary and comprehensive measures to promote the investment climate.

"I have always supported the participation of private businesses in the procurement of infrastructure projects on the basis of good and fair business, and serving the interest of the general public," he said.

Therefore, he added, various policies had been improved to meet the need for funding by the mobilization of private funds and a revision of Presidential Decree no 67 of 2005 into Presidential Decree No 13 of 2010.

Under the revised decree, businesses are given facilities and access for participation in the building of infrastructure projects in the country.

And by the revised decree, the government has also referred to risk sharing in the management of land for investment according to international standards.