Jakarta. The government recently said that the national strategic project in Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 or PIK 2 focused on the development of an ecotourism area called the “Tropical Coastland”.

The term national strategic project refers to infrastructure projects that are strategically economic. The government has set up a number of such projects around the country, including one in PIK 2, which they would dedicate to an ecotourism project.

According to Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto, this upcoming 1,755-hectare Tropical Coastland is set to boost tourism, while also making use of mangrove tourism to safeguard the coastlines. The project’s funding does not come from the state budget. The company involved in the project which is worth Rp 65 trillion or nearly $4 billion had committed to carry out the development in phases. Tropical Coastland is expected to directly employ 6,235 people, and create job opportunities for 13,550 workers as a multiplier effect.

“Just like what minister Airlangga had said, I think it is already crystal clear that the national strategic project in PIK 2 only revolves around the development of the Tropical Coastland ecotourism,” the ministry’s spokesman Haryo Limanseto was quoted as saying in a recent press statement.

Haryo also denied that the project was connected to the bamboo barriers that spanned 30 kilometers in the waters off Tanjung Pasir.

“The [Tropical Coastland] project will span 1,755 hectares. Of course, it has nothing to do with the bamboo barriers that are on the news,” Haryo said.

Aside from the Tropical Coastland, the government would also continue to evaluate the development of all national strategic projects in the country, including the Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Likupang in North Sulawesi, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, and Lido in West Java, according to Haryo. 

He promised that the government would continue to develop national strategic projects by focusing not only on infrastructure development. But the government would make sure that such projects could lead to equitable economic growth, food provision, technology, tourism, and even education.