Cirebon ports struggling

The Jakarta Post

CIREBON, West Java: Development of Cirebon city's two major ports is lagging behind that of other ports in West Java, a city legislative council member said.

The two ports -- an inter-island port and fishing port Kejawanan -- are unable to provide significant contributions to the city's development.

"The two ports cannot contribute to the people living in their surroundings or to the city's development," said Cirebon Legislative Council Speaker Sunaryo.

He blamed the ports' condition on poor management and facilities, which mean the inter-island port is rarely used to transport goods. Most businesspeople, he said, prefer to use Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta.

"All exporting of rattan handicrafts from Cirebon to European countries, as well as to the U.S. and Japan, are done through Tanjung Priok. This is happening because businesspeople find it more efficient to do it there than from Cirebon port," Sunaryo said.

He said the poor condition of both ports could curtail efforts to make the city an entry point for trade in West Java.