Jakarta, Kominfo Newsroom - The transportation sector is certain to be ready to support the smooth transportation of state leaders and participants of the 42nd ASEAN Summit which will be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.
This was stated by the Transportation Minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, when directly inspecting the readiness of transportation facilities and infrastructures in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Saturday, 8 April 2023.
One of the locations being checked is Komodo Airport which will be the landing place for delegations and officials from Indonesia, ASEAN member countries and ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
"We want to ensure that the support from the transportation sector goes well, so that it contributes to the success of holding the ASEAN Summit, where Indonesia is entrusted as the chair of the meeting, just like last year's G20 international event," he said.
The Minister also stated that the facilities at Komodo Airport, both on the land and air sides, are ready to operate VVIP and commercial flights. "Komodo Airport will be a temporary meeting point for state guests attending the ASEAN Summit. We want to give a good impression to the state guests," he said.
The Transportation Ministry’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has also made anticipatory efforts by preparing alternative airports close to Komodo Airport as a place to park the delegates' planes, namely I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Lombok Praya Airport, Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar and El Tari Airport in Kupang.
A number of other supporting facilities have also been prepared to support ASEAN Summit activities, including Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities and helipad facilities for medical evacuation.
On this occasion, Transportation Minister also inspected the Wae Kelambu Multipurpose Terminal, which had been operational in 2021 serving loading and unloading of logistic activities.
Before Wae Kelambu Terminal was built, both passenger ship services and logistics activities were carried out at the existing Labuan Bajo Marina port.
Then, the government decided to build a Multipurpose Terminal in Wae Kelambu which is approximately 10 Km -12 Km from the existing Labuan Bajo Port so that tourism in Labuan Bajo is more advanced and logistics activities are more optimal.
Furthermore, the Transportation Minister inspected the Marina Port which is one of the tourist icons in Labuan Bajo and become the docking place for yachts.
The Minister also inspected Meruorah Hotel which is located in the Marina Labuan Bajo integrated area. The hotel developed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry and PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PP) will be used for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) activities and as an accommodation location for delegates.
Ahead of ASEAN Summit on 9-11 May, the Transportation Minister instructed his administration to continue to intensify coordination with stakeholders both with related Ministries/Agencies and operators of transportation facilities and infrastructure.
"International events such as ASEAN Summit are a good momentum to increase Indonesia's competitiveness in the eyes of the world, as well as to introduce art, culinary and tourist destinations in Labuan Bajo, so that they become as famous as Bali," he said.