REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BELITUNG -- President Joko Widodo inaugurated the Port of Tanjung Batu, located in Belitung District, Bangka Belitung Province, on Saturday.

"I hope this port strengthens the economy, in Belitung particularly, and also opens wider access to this area and allowing this location to become a tourism destination," the president said.

The inauguration was also attended by Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan, Economy Coordinating Minister Sofyan Djalil, Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Industry Minister Saleh Husin, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Frangky Sibarani and Governor of Bangka Beliting Rustam Effendi.

The seaport, with a land area of three hectares, was built from 2004 until 2014 at a cost of Rp47,31 billion.

The port has a passenger terminal, general cargo, coal, and container terminals, as well as a special terminal for handling crude palm oil.

The passenger terminal has an area of 304 square meters and a dock measuring 120x60 square meters, which can handle ships up to 6,000 deadweight tonnes.

The port is in a strategic position, as it is located close to the Indonesian archipelagic sea lanes (ALKI) 1.

ALKI 1 crosses the South China Sea, Karimata Strait, Java Sea, and Sunda Strait.

The port is directly adjacent to the South China Sea to the north, Java Sea in the south and the Gaspar Strait in the west.

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