Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING ): Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has instructed relevant ministries and institutions to expand the international airport network throughout the country.
The president conveyed this while leading a virtual limited meeting from his residence in Hambalang, Bogor District, West Java, on Friday.
The meeting aimed to evaluate the progress of several ministerial work programs in the Red and White Cabinet.
“The president ordered the opening of as many international airports as possible in various regions,” Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya announced via the Cabinet Secretariat’s social media account in Jakarta.
He noted that the instruction to expand the international airport network across regions is designed to stimulate economic growth and tourism in the respective regions.
The Ministry of Transportation has re-designated three airports in Indonesia as international airports: Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (Palembang), H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin Airport (Bangka Belitung), and General Ahmad Yani Airport (Semarang).
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi addressed that the reopening of international airports is based on increased traffic post-pandemic and serves as a strategy to encourage economic growth, tourism, and religious activities.
Meanwhile, West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan also proposed that the Ministry of Transportation reopen the Pontianak-Kuching, Malaysia route.
In addition, two airlines had expressed interest in opening international flight routes at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Airport following the success of Air Asia’s inaugural flight from Palembang to Kuala Lumpur.
The two airlines are Malindo Air, with the Palembang-Kuala Lumpur route, and Scoot Air, planning the Palembang-Singapore route.
During a limited meeting, the head of state also ordered relevant authorities to prevent potential forest fires caused by the dry season and to promote development in the economic, agricultural, and maritime sectors.
Present at the agenda were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Investment and Downstream Development/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, and Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni.
