Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has met the French Minister Delegate for Transport, Clément Beaune, in Paris, France, on Friday (September 2). They discussed cooperation opportunities in the transportation sector, including the future development of high-speed railway system to Surabaya.
"We are warmly welcomed by Mr Clément Beaune. We hope the meeting would bolster beneficial cooperation between our two countries," Sumadi noted in his official statement.
The minister remarked that one of the matters discussed during the meeting was the cooperation opportunity on the future development of the high-speed railway system to Surabaya, East Java, and the Jabodebek LRT.
"We seek an opportunity for cooperation with a French transport operator," he noted.
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Sumadi invited the French marine transport industry to collaborate in enhancing the utilization level and sea traffic in Patimban Port, West Java, and offered cooperation on the provision of aviation spare parts with good safety standards with the relevant French industry.
"We also sought France's support to our effort in increasing our aircraft armada declining due to the COVID-19 pandemic," the minister stated.
He also encouraged French companies to participate in the development of new capital Nusantara, for which transportation system development will focus on mass transportation powered by renewable energy.
Sumadi then invited Beaunne to participate in a G20 side event on the aviation sector organized with the theme "Financial Measures for the Aviation Recovery."
Related news: Ministry allocates Rp1.59 trillion to support sea toll program Apart from the meeting with the French minister, Sumadi also met executives of Aeroports de Paris, Crossrail International CEO Paul Dyson, and Systra Group Asia-Pacific country director Abdelghani.
The minister expressed optimism that Systra Group and Crossrail International would again participate in development of the second phase of Jabodebek LRT following their earlier participation in the project's first phase as the project consultant.
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