JAKARTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's President Joko Widodo on Wednesday inaugurated two rebuilt ports destroyed in powerful earthquakes and a tsunami in 2018 in Palu Bay of the Central Sulawesi province.
The ports were in ruins, but thanks to collective efforts, "today we are inaugurating the rehabilitation and reconstruction of port infrastructure in Palu Bay area, Wani Port, and Pantoloan Port," said Widodo.
With 14.7 million U.S. dollars in funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the ports were redeveloped to enhance port services as centers for logistics operations, boosting regional connections and local economic activities.
To compete globally, Widodo emphasized the necessity of bolstering the Southeast Asian country's port infrastructure. This highlights raising standards for management and service, utilizing technology to provide integrated logistics services, and establishing connections with other modes of transportation to maximize efficiency.
Ports play a significant role in promoting economic growth and facilitating mobility in island countries, Widodo added.
Widodo also expressed support for the idea of using roll-on/roll-off ships to facilitate the development of Nusantara, Indonesia's new capital, on the routes through Central Sulawesi and East Kalimantan. ■
