Bitung ready to play role of Asia Pacific gate

Bitung Mayor Maximilian Jonas Lomban said he had a vision to make the city into a modern city serving as an Asian Pacific gate for Indonesia.

The city could play the role of Asian Pacific gate for Indonesia, Lomban said at a meeting on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the port city here on Tuesday.

The port city is strategically located on the Pacific rim in North Sulawesi, he said at the meeting attended by the city leaders.

“The position of the city would be more potential with the governments plan to provide it with facilities and supporting infrastructure that would make it competitive in the Asia Pacific region,” he said.

He said Bitung would be a knot of various national strategic projects and there would be many national and international investors want to utilize the citys facilities and infrastructure.

The mayor said among big projects being built and to be built in that area around and in the city include Special Economic Zone (KEK), Manado-Bitung toll road, Bitung International Ocean Going Ship Port and rail track Makasar-Bitung, which will automatically make the city the gate to the Pacific region.

“The idea of Bitung as a Pacific gate for Indonesia would come to reality especially if Bitung is promoted into one of Indonesia tourist destinations,” Max said.

Chairman of the Bitung City Council Laurents Supit, Bitung has been awarded a number of tokens of appreciation including from the finance ministry for good financial report and from the Transport Ministry for good service by its container terminal.

Supit attributed the achievement to the ambition of the city people to transform Bitung into modern marine city.