UNAIR NEWS – Roads become one of the infrastructures emphasized to facilitate distribution channels in Java Island. The infrastructure development has raised Indonesia’s competitiveness to the 36th position. It means Indonesia has a good competitiveness in global competition.

“The Ministry of PUPR continues to encourage the development of toll road, MRT, and the Jakarta-Surabaya fast train which is the main concern,” said the General Secretary of PUPR. Prof. (R). Dr. Ir. Anita Firmanti Eko Susetyowati, MT., in PUPR Goes to Campus event at Airlangga Convention Center, Wednesday, November 15.

“In order to support food security and rehabilitation of irrigation, slum area development which reaches 30 thousand hectares is being done. This is PUPR’s effort in distributing development in Indonesia, ” she explained.

This effort, according to Anita, is an effort of Ministry of PUPR in improving Indonesia’s competitiveness. In the event entitled “Taking Benefits of Infrastructure Development of PUPR in Java Island”, the aspects that affect the infrastructure targets were also presented. One of them is demography.

As much as 70 percent of Indonesians reside on Java. There is also high urbanization rate, in Java, we facilitate it to get optimal results in infrastructure development. Infrastructure support is needed to improve the competitiveness of Indonesia’s economy.

“Smooth distribution channels will improve people’s economy. When the economy increases, people will also prosper, ” she added.

In response to the statements, Junaidi Khotib, S.Si., Apt., M.Kes., Ph.D., stated that the role of academics is to prepare resources so that the infrastructure development can be supported by reliable personnel. The university acts as a bridge between government and society. Things that arise from the impact of such development can be anticipated well by the government and they are accepted by the community.

Development of infrastructure can run well and the community can optimize the results. On the other hand, UNAIR has also been incorporated in the university network for infrastructure development . Thus , UNAIR has the opportunity to take part in infrastructure development in Indonesia.

“From building connecting infrastructure from one place to another such as toll roads to developing food security. For example, agribusiness development. We are involved there, ” he concluded.

Author: Helmy Rafsanjani

Editor: Feri Fenoria