JakartaPost-Nov 17
Three countries have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia to participate in the expansion of Jakarta’s mass rapid transit (MRT) mega-project and to partake in developing other transportation constructions in Indonesia. The MoU was signed bilaterally by Indonesia and three countries, namely Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, during the Group of 20 meetings in Bali, on Nov. 14. “We are using the G20 moments to seek opportunities for cooperation in transportation-infrastructure development via non-state budget funding,” Indonesia’s Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in a statement. Budi went on to say that for now, many agreements are circulating around projects in Jakarta, which can be an example of mass-transportation development in the country, but he said other cities would soon see similar opportunities. “We are conducting studies related to MRT and LRT [light rail transit] development in Medan, [North Sumatra]; Bandung, [West Java]; Surabaya, [East Java]; and Bali,” Budi said. The agreement with Japan covered aspects related to the first phase of MRT Jakarta’s east-west corridor, also dubbed the Third Phase, that would span between Kali Deres and Ujung Menteng area. MRT Jakarta estimates the 84-kilometer-long railways will require a total of Rp 160 trillion (US$10.29 billion) to finish the whole east-west line. The British government signed the letter of intent (LoI) to fund development of other phases in MRT project with their initial contribution of almost US$1.25 billion backed by UK export finance. Meanwhile, South Korea will participate in the development of the Fourth Phase that is set to span between Fatmawati and Kampung Rambutan; MRT Jakarta estimates the 12 km long project will consume around Rp 28 trillion. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2022/11/17/jakarta-reels-in-new-foreign-funding-for-mega-rail-projects.html.
