Indonesian president visits Dubai seaport and aluminum processing plant

President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited a container seaport and an aluminum processing plant in Dubai during his recent visit to the Emirates. The president closely evaluated the seaports management, which is run in an efficient and timely manner.

"We have prepared the guidelines for cooperation for the dry port in Surabaya, and we will also develop them in Tanjung Api-api. I have ordered a two-week survey, and in Jakarta, we have decided to implement it immediately," Jokowi noted while visiting Dubai Port World.

The head of state thereafter visited an aluminum processing plant to explore cooperation in aluminum processing in Asahan.

"Aluminum in Asahan is also similar. There is also silica sand and nickel that we could process as good as here. Between two and three weeks, cooperation with either a state-owned enterprise or they themselves (Dubai), should materialize. We are indeed late, but we should arrive at a decision soon," the president remarked.

With a similar management in place, container loading and unloading operations as well as management could be carried out effectively and competitively, he stated. "For sure, it could cut down costs by 20 percent, be more efficient, and offer better services," he emphasized.

Indonesia has invited Dubai Port and Dubai Aluminum to invest and develop seaports and an aluminum processing plant in Indonesia as Dubai has the capability and experience in these fields.

"They have the experience and international network of logistic companies. If we could do this, the logistics cost will drop, and consequently, the prices will be lower and competitive," the president pointed out.