The Coordinating Ministry for the Economy reveals that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is committed to supporting the implementation of the National Strategic Project for MRT East-West Phase I Stage I in Jakarta.
JICA’s commitment was discussed during a Coordination Meeting for the implementation of the National Strategic Project for MRT East-West Phase I Stage I held at the Coordinating Ministry’s office in Jakarta on January 16, 2024.
“Commitment to cooperation has earlier been demonstrated when President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signed the Commitment for the East-West MRT Development on December 16, 2023,” Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, said on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
Previously, the signing of the Minutes of Discussion for Phase 1 Stage 1 between JICA, the Ministry of Transportation, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the Jakarta Provincial Administration, and MRT Jakarta took place in November 2023. The government will also soon issue a Coordinating Ministerial Regulation (Permenko) related to the implementation of MRT East West, serving as the basis for loan negotiations in March 2024.
Airlangga said he is committed to ensuring the smooth progress of the project, emphasizing the importance of the MRT East-West project as part of efforts to improve and enhance the mass transportation system in the capital.
He mentioned that the MRT East-West project is part of the National Strategic Project and will continue to be accelerated following the President’s directive to complete or at least achieve financial close and groundbreaking for all National Strategic Projects in the first half of 2024.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, who also attended the meeting, expressed full support for the MRT East-West project. The institutional structure of the project will involve the Ministry of Transportation as the executing agency, the Jakarta Provincial Administration as the implementing agency, and PT MRT Jakarta as the sub-implementing agency. The financing distribution agreed upon is 49% on-granting and 51% on-lending.
The Jakarta Provincial Administration has been committed to land acquisition in the Jakarta area. The Central Government and other regional governments have pledged to ensure successful implementation and operation of the MRT East-West project.
The project is planned to consist of two phases: the first phase from Kembangan to Medan Satria, covering 39.3 km, and the second phase from Balaraja-Kembangan to Medan Satria-Cikarang, spanning 50.4 km.
Airlangga emphasized that the infrastructure project is a common endeavor that transcends regions and areas. The critical factors are having investors, project managers, clear operational plans, and ownership of MRT operations.
