TIM
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TIM eMagazine
eMagazine Vol.2
Vol.1 Issue
Issue 5
M
ANILA, PHILIPPINES -- The opening of a new
maritime route within the Brunei Darussalam
-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN
Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is expected to
strengthen economic ties between the
Philippines and Indonesia. A highlight of this
new route is the roll-on roll-off (RORO) ferry
service that spans the route Davao City-General Santos-Bitung,
Indonesia launched last April 30.
Inaugurated by Presidents Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Joko
Widodo of the Philippines and Indonesia, respectively, this new
sea linkage will provide a cheaper, faster and more direct and
efficient avenue for trading goods among EAGA's key cities. The
said route will be operated by M/V Super Shuttle RoRo 12 of Asian
Marine Transport Corporation, with initially a weekly shipping
service with a vessel capacity of 500 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units
(TEUs). What makes this route much faster is that it takes only one
and a half days travel time in contrast to the more tedious three
week long Manila-Jakarta-Bitung route.
Trade opportunities along this route abound, where to
be exported from Mindanao to Indonesia include animal feeds,
fertilizer, construction materials, ice cream products, poultry
(halal), fresh fruits, and synthetics.
Import items from Indonsesia comprise matured coconut,
copra, corn, feed ingredients, lumber, cement, high value crops,
vegetables, meat, peanuts, aqua products, charcoal, soya, coffee
beans, and sugar.
Not to be outdone are the opening up of more business and
This new route will strengthen trade relations among its member
countries since it supports the achievement of the goals of the other
EAGA pillars with strong growth potentials such as agribusiness, tourism,
and sociocultural and education
trade opportunities on this route for traders and local busi-
nessmen who are also vital in enhancing investments and
even potentials for tourism.
Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, chairman of the Mindanao
Development Authority (MinDA) proudly noted that this new
route will strengthen trade relations among its member countries
since it supports the achievement of the goals of the other
EAGA pillars. “This also includes other subsectors," said Secretary
with strong growth potentials such as agribusiness, tourism,
and sociocultural and education,” he added.
Also expressing confidence was Department of Trade and
Industr y (DTI) Assistant Secretar y Arturo Boncato Jr., who
enthused that the RORO service is one of the priority
projects of the BIMP-EAGA's connectivity group.
“With the port facilities of Bitung having undergone great
improvements and upgradements, and with Bitung now
elevated as an international port, the sustainability of the
route becomes more feasible as the Indonesian government has
provided its full support to the link’s opening and operation. On
another angle, this new route will truly enhance the competitive-
ness of goods and produce from Mindanao while providing that
efficient link for faster trade between Filipino and Indonesian
businesses,” he proudly summed up.
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