NORTH SULAWESI CAN BECOME GATEWAY TO ASIA-PACIFIC TRADE

Jakarta, 5 Muharram 1436/29  October 2014 (MINA) – North Sulawesi has the potential to serve as the gateway to the Asia-Pacific economy due to its strategic geographical location, stated Deputy Speaker of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Evert E. Mangindaan.

“So, it needs the support of the government and local communities to meet these expectations,” Mangindaan noted here on Wednesday.

According to him, North Sulawesi was located on the edge of the Pacific. The central government has disbursed significant amount of funds to build infrastructure facilities, Antaranews.com quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The former transport minister pointed out that the government built the Miangas Airport in Talaud Islands and Sitaro Airport in the District Sitaro and also carried out the runway extension of the Sam Ratulangi International Airport.

In addition, the government also built a multifunctional giant dam in Bitung.

“Once the line is opened, North Sulawesi will be like sugar, and the ants will come by themselves. As the location of North Sulawesi is very strategic, the investors will invest,” he affirmed.

“Hopefully, I can come in for a consultation to assert that North Sulawesi has potential,” he revealed.

He was hopeful that the momentum could be utilized by preparing qualified human resources in order to compete with workers from outside the region.

“Let us support each other. We must encourage the younger generation to perform in the future. Let us help bright children who have shown significant achievements but do not have the funds to study further,” he emphasized. (T/P009/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)