Singkawang traders look forward to road completion from Biawak
SINGKAWANG: Indonesian traders in Singkawang, West Kalimantan are looking forward to the completion of a tar- sealed road from Biawak ( Lundu) to the city soon as it will bring more industrial development to the city.
According to Singakwang Chamber of Commerce and Industry head Abdur Razaq, the completion of the road was vital as it would allow vehicles capable of ferrying goods from Sarawak to enter the region with ease.
He was also optimistic that the road would bring much needed industrial technology from the neighbouring country.
“We still need help in developing our industrial sector. We certainly can learn a lot from our counterparts in Malaysia because they are more advanced than us in terms of technology,” he told reporters last Saturday when welcoming business owners and representatives from Sarawak who are also members of Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the city.
During their time there, the delegates took time to visit a few local industries in the city.
The head of delegation Tan Jit Kee also spoke at the function.
He said they would love to find the best solution for both parties due to the fact that Sarawakians have been trading with the Indonesians in Kalimantan for years but the main obstacle which they face is transportation.
“KCGCCI will keep in touch with them ( Singakwang Chamber of Commerce and Industry). We believe there are a lot of business opportunities in Singkawang and elsewhere in the region,” he said.
Unlike West Kalimantan’s capital and largest city Pontianak, Singkawang does not have an airport and the only practical way to transport goods to the city from Malaysia is by land.
Sending goods there from the border check point of Tebedu where there are tar- sealed roads can be costly due to the distance while the road conditions from Biawak and Serikin, which are closer to Singkawang, are less than desirable at the moment.
That may be a thing of the past soon as the road’s construction has commenced since last year and is expected to be completed in two years’ time.