Sigit (centre) giving a briefing during the media gathering on Jan 29. Looking on is Johor Media Club president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak (right).
JOHOR BARU: Batam and Johor are mulling a ferry route for cargo lorries to increase trade ties, says an Indonesian envoy here.
Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Johor Baru Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto said talks were ongoing in hopes of the plan materialising by this year.
"We are planning to open a route for the roll-on, roll-off (Roro) ferry between Batam and Johor.
“The Roro ferry will not transport passengers, (but) is a mode of transport for lorries to carry shipments from Johor to Batam and vice versa, which will also boost trade ties between both areas.
“It will benefit small and medium enterprises, which could find containers a costly option to bring their products to an overseas market,” he said during a media gathering at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia here Monday (Jan 29).
The proposed points are Batam’s Batu Ampar Port and Johor’s Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal in Kota Tinggi with a travel time of around two hours.
"Both locations have existing facilities and all we need are some enhancements," he said.
On a separate note, Sigit said a total of 119,491 Indonesian citizens in Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Pahang are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming Indonesian general election from Feb 5 to 11.
“Out of the total, 2,684 voters have registered to vote at the Consulate office in Johor Baru while the remaining voters in the four states will cast their votes via 432 drop boxes," he added.
Indonesia will hold its largest simultaneous elections on Feb 14, when voters head to the ballot to elect the next president, vice president, lawmakers and councillors.
