Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly as well as Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party Bambang Soesatyo supports the development of Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport to become a logistics and cargo hub or center in the western region of Indonesia. This airport will also become an international cargo hub connecting Asian, European, American logistics flight routes to the Southwest Pacific region. "The development of Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport must become a new icon of an international airport in the western part of Indonesia. Not only increasing domestic and international passenger flight routes, but also being able to become an international logistics and cargo center," said Bamsoet in his statement, Sunday (20/11/2022).
Bamsoet explained that Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport is geographically in a very strategic position. The reason is, this airport is located in the Southeast Asia region and is side by side with a cargo port and industrial area. "If managed properly, I am optimistic that Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport will be able to compete with Singapore Changi Airport which has been named the best airport in the world for eight consecutive years," said Bamsoet. "As an international cargo hub, Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport is not only for Indonesia's end destinations, but a transit point from Asia or America to the South West Pacific and so on," he added. Furthermore, Bamsoet explained that as of 1 July 2022 the operation of Hang Nadim International Airport had been handed over from the Batam Free Trade and Free Port Zone Concession Agency (BP Batam) to PT Batam International Airport. PT Batam International Airport is a consortium formed by Angkasa Pura Airports, Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), and PT Wijaya Karya Tbk. According to him, PT Batam International Airport is responsible for the operation and development of the airport. Starting from the renovation, expansion and maintenance of the existing passenger terminal at Terminal 1. In addition, they are also responsible for the construction of a passenger terminal at terminal 2, management of a new cargo terminal, and development of the master plan for Hang Nadim International Airport with the Logistics Aerocity concept. "The existence of Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport will have a major positive impact on the industrial goods supply chain process. Apart from being able to provide a multiplier effect for improving the economy of the people on Batam Island," concluded Bamsoet. For information, Bamsoet's visit to Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport was also attended by Member of the Republic of Indonesia DPR from the Golkar Party Faction Robert Cardinal, Governor of the Riau Islands Ansar Ahmad, Deputy Chairperson of the Riau Islands DPRD Rizki Faisal, Main Director of PT Batam International Airport Pikri Ilham, Member 4 of the Business BP Batam Wan Darusalam, and BS-Go Main Director Sonny Harsono.
