Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the construction of Sunda Strait Bridge, one of MP3EI (Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia`s Economic Development) projects.

“We are consistent in realising the construction of Sunda Strait Bridge, which will connect Banten (Java Island) and Lampung (Sumatra Island),” Indonesia’s Antara news agency quoted Minister Rajasa as saying in Lebak, Banten today.

Banten Province has been included in the Sumatra-Banten Economic Corridor to boost economic growth of the two islands.

The Sunda Strait Bridge project will commence in 2014 and is estimated to cost Rp200 trillion (RM58.7 billion).

“When the bridge is ready, Banten will be flooded with investments,” noted the minister.

Banten has five investment zones to promote economic growth, and they are in Lebak, Serang, Cilegon, Tangerang, and Tanjung Lesung in Pandeglang District.

Rajasa is optimistic that these five zones will be able to attract both domestic and foreign investors to the region.

This year, the government had allocated funds amounting to Rp1 trillion (RM293.9 million) for the construction of roads in southern Java, from Cilacap in West Java to South Banten.

The roads are expected to help ensure smooth flow of goods and people, which would in turn reduce the rate of poverty in West Java and Banten, said the minister.

“With the existence of proper infrastructure, industries will grow and activities related to agriculture will develop, hence will increase the income of locals,” he said.

- Bernama