Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA) – China’s Shanxi International Economic & Technical Cooperative Co. Ltd has expressed interest in investing in the construction of Tanjung Carat seaport in Banyuasin district of South Sumatra province.

The location of the seaport is very strategic, which is why the company considers it worthy of being included in the business expansion plan, according to the company’s general manager, Jason Hang.

“This morning we inspected the port of Tanjung Carat. We see that the location is very good,” he said during a meeting with South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru in Griya Agung Palembang. , after visiting the Tanjung Carat area on Thursday.

Another consideration is that Sumatra has abundant natural resources (SDA), including rubber latex, palm oil, coal, oil and gas, he explained.

“We really hope to participate in the investment in Tanjung Carat Port as we see the potential of South Sumatra is very good. Hopefully in the near future we can cooperate by signing a Memorandum of Understanding agreement),” he said.

Governor Deru welcomed the interest expressed by Shanxi International Economic & Technical Co. Ltd Indonesia to invest in the province.

People in South Sumatra have long wanted a deep-water port, he said.

The deep-sea port project has received approval to be included in the list of national strategic projects, he noted.

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Also, the process of providing land for the port, which will serve as an export gateway for South Sumatra, is being finalized, he said.

Authorities in South Sumatra have resolved several principle issues in the construction of international seaports, such as land availability, road access, sea depth and location of docks, he added. .

The government’s main concern is the availability of funds, according to Deru.

Earlier, during a visit to Palembang, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the government would seek private sector funds to build Tanjung Carat Port in Banyuasin.

“It can be a national consortium or foreign investors. This will be investigated,” he said.

The inauguration of the Tanjung Carat Port project was scheduled for the end of 2021, but the target could not be met due to a problem over land issues, the minister said. The port is expected to be built on an area of ​​1,330 hectares, he noted.

Tanjung Carat Port is expected to serve as an export gateway as South Sumatra has no deep water port so far, he added.

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