Indonesia Goverment Build Facilities For World Ocean Conference

Manado, N Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has approved the Manado-Mapanget road refurbishment project which will cost Rp78 billion in a bid to support the holding of World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado in March 2009, an official has said.

The multiyears project to rebuild 11 km-road will stretch from the capital city of North Sulawesi to road leading to Samratulangi airport, North Sulawesi Infrastructure and Housing Office head Recky Tumanduk said here Friday.

"The rebuilding program will be implemented in two years by widening by 20 meters the two sides of Manado-Mapangat road. People living alongside the road are compelled to move but will receive compensation," he said.

Besides renewing the road, the government will also build supporting facility for the holding of WOC.

Recky said Samratulangi airport`s facility would be refurbished at a cost of Rp188 billion including the fund to lengthen its runway, renew apron, and build a bridge.

The aim of WOC is to find ways to solve environmental problems stemming from global warming.

International experts said the negative impact of global climate change would be a serious problem for the ecosystem on earth as well as for human beings.

Indonesia was at present encouraging the United States and China to participate in the World Ocean Conference because the two countries had refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol which asked states to reduce greenhouse gas effect which had affected climate change.

Meanwhile, local administration spokesperson Feybe Rodunuwu said on Thursda that Governor SH Sarundajang has met Brazilian Ambassador to Indonesia Edmundo Fujita to explain the plan to organize the 2009 World Ocean Conference.

She said that in the meeting at the governor`s office, Sarundajang told the Brazilian envoy that the organization of the conference was supported by the United Nations.

Sarundajang said a number of littoral states had expressed readiness to actively participate in such an international event.

On the occasion, the governor also told his guest from Brazil that North Sulawesi had a variety of natural resources in fishery, mining, and tourism for investors.(*)