President Joko Widodo once again inaugurated one of the infrastructure projects in the country. This time the Surabaya - Mojokerto toll road section IB, II, and III of the Sepanjang - Krian section with a total length of 15.47 kilometers was inaugurated directly by the Head of State.

The inauguration of the toll road was held on Tuesday, 19 December 2017, precisely at the Warugunung Toll Gate, Warugung District, Surabaya City, East Java Province.

"These three sections are the three final sections of the Surabaya-Mojokerto Toll Road with a total length of 34.05 kilometers," said the President.

The President stated that the 1,167 kilometer Merak-Banyuwangi toll road project will be completed by the end of 2019.

"I have been chasing every day so that by the end of 2019 without reason I must finish," said the President.

The President further explained that from the 1,167 kilometer toll road, there were 561 kilometers of operating roads. While 433 kilometers are under construction and another 173 kilometers are still in the preparation stage.

"In East Java alone it turns out that the most, which is 268 kilometers," said the Head of State.

Not only that, the President said that he would continue the construction of toll roads outside of Java that had already begun.

"For example, the trans Sumatra toll road in Lampung has moved, in Palembang it has moved, to the top again in Medan the area has moved. Next year from the west end, Aceh will enter the east, "he said.

On the occasion, the President explained that the government's reason for accelerating infrastructure development is to prepare for increasingly fierce and tighter competition between countries.

The President believes that developing countries will become developed countries if they have high competitiveness and efficiency. Therefore, the government continues to accelerate the construction of toll roads in order to reduce funding dependence on the state budget.

"I submit that this toll road must never depend on the State Budget. SOEs must also be able to look for new funding schemes that do not burden the state, "said the President.

At the end of his remarks, the President also emphasized that the construction of toll roads, airports, ports and railroad lines aims to improve the regional economy which has been experiencing inequality due to incomplete infrastructure.

"With our revival of the regional economy, the national economy will move and prosperity will also be more evenly distributed. That's why we need infrastructure, "he said.

Also present to accompany the President and Mrs. Iriana at the event were the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of BUMN Rini Soemarno, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, East Java Governor Soekarwo, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini and Mojokerto Regent Mustofa Kamal Pasa .

Jajal Electric Car

In this inauguration, the President explored the toll road with a red electric car by students of the Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya. The car used by the President is an Ezzy II electric car that uses 20 kWh of battery power with 130 kilometers of mileage capability.

"If I'm fine, as a new product early," said the President commenting on the electric car.

Although there are still shortcomings, the President admitted that in general it was very good. The shortage has been conveyed by Director of the Center for Automotive Science and Control Technology and Systems (PUI SKO) ITS Muhammad Nur Yuniarto to the President.

Lack is a natural thing. Even more so when looking at the experiences of other countries. "It takes 40 to 50 years to reach the standard in order to enter the market," said the President.

To move to the next stage, the President acknowledged was not easy. "The most severe is usually how the product is designed, the price can enter the market, can competition with other car products that have long been on the market," he said.

However, the President will continue to encourage various products of the nation's children so that they can enter the industrial process and be competitive. "Then we pursue it so that it can immediately enter the process in the industry," said the President. (Deputy for the Protocol, Press and Media Section of the Presidential Secretariat)