Dubai, UAE — Ports operator DP World, INA, and Pelindo have signed an agreement to manage and expand Indonesia’s Belawan New Container Terminal (BNCT). The agreement will increase BNCT’s capacity to 1.4 million TEUs, up from 600,000 TEUs currently.
The expansion and modernization program will strengthen BNCT’s position as a major trade and logistics gateway in the Malacca Strait, DP World said.
DP World will also work with its partners to connect other terminals and small ports on the Island of Sumatra to further realize the BNCT’s role in reducing container logistics costs within Northern Sumatra.
Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, said that the agreement is in line with the government’s goal of strengthening the national port industry ecosystem and increasing the competitiveness of Indonesian ports as strategic trade routes in Southeast Asia and internationally.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said that the company is proud to help Indonesia expand the Belawan New Container Terminal and support its ambitions to develop the economy of Sumatra through infrastructure.
INA CEO Ridha Wirakusumah said that the investment in BNCT serves as a crucial step towards positioning Indonesia as a prominent maritime axis and key player in the global logistics industry.
The agreement is a major boost for Indonesia’s maritime sector and will help to improve the country’s connectivity and trade links. It is also a sign of investor confidence in Indonesia’s economic growth prospects.