Makassar to Become an International Harbor Next Year

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar:The Deputy Minister of Industry, Alex W. Retraubun, said that Makassar will become an international harbor in early 2012. There is no reason why Makassar cannot become an international harbor, said Alex in Makassar yesterday.

According to Alex, judged by its production of industrial raw material, South Sulawesi is has a high production value. The problem is that South Sulawesi sells more raw material than finished goods.

The Planning and Operation Manager of Makassar Container PT Pelabuhan Indonesia IV, Dwi Rahmat Toto Sugiarto, hoped to accelerate the development plan and not wait untill 2012. The sooner the better. We are ready this year, said Toto.

He said that the Makassar Harbor facility was read for operationsy. We are a 100 percent ready, said Toto.

Toto admitted that one of the obstacles would be to ask all foreign shipping entrepreneurs to dock in Makassar. They have determined their route to Jakarta and Surabaya. They have determined their schedule and it cannot not be modified, said Toto.

Another obstacle is that the warehouses do not operate 24 hours. The harbor operates 24 hours but no unloading can be carried out at night because the warehouses only operate until 8 PM, said Toto.