16 September 2013 - Officials from the Observation Division of the Ministry of Transportation in Jakarta, led by Mr. I. Ketut Mudana, as well as the Department of Transportation in North Sulawesi, and accompanied by members of the North Sulawesi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN-Sulut) met with Consul General Jose D.R. Burgos in the Philippine Consulate General in Manado on September 11.

Discussed during the meeting were ongoing plans for the Davao-Gensan-Bitung Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) service, including efforts by Philippine and Indonesian stakeholders, including the Governor of North Sulawesi and the Philippine Consulate General in Manado to open Bitung Port as an “Entry Port” or International Gateway Port to accommodate greater trade and commerce with the Philippines as a result of the lifting of restricted items such as electronics, garments, processed goods, drinks/beverages, shoes, and pharmaceutical products/medicines at Bitung Port.

The Consul General also mentioned the great potential for Bitung Port for the planned Davao-Gensan-Bitung RORO to serve as a trans-shipment hub for North Sulawesi, as a shorter, cheaper alternative route to ship goods from/to China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and other profitable markets in North Asia, the United States, Middle East and Eurrropean Union, via the well-developed port infrastructures in Davao and General Santos Cities.

The launch of the Davao-Gensan-Bitung RORO service is planned to take place by late September or early October 2013. END