Wangiwangi, SE Sulawesi, Sept 9 (Antara) - Wakatobi District Head Hugua has proposed a plan to the Ministry of Transportation to convert the Panggulubelo port into a transit port besides the Makassar port in eastern Indonesia.

Hugua noted here on Tuesday that the Panggulubelo port had been proposed to be turned into a transit port in the eastern region of Indonesia in an effort to support the "maritime toll road" program of the new government.

"Wakatobi has a strategic position in the maritime toll road program of the new government of president-elect Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi," Hugua affirmed.

He explained that the maritime toll road, which will link the Indonesian islands from Sabang to Merauke, needs transit ports to transfer passengers and goods from large ships to smaller ones in order to reach remote areas.

The concept of the maritime super corridor has been formulated by the current government for large tonnage ships with cargoes or passengers serving the main sea lanes and using the six major seaports located in areas stretching from the eastern to the western parts of the country.

It is expected that the sea corridor will ensure smooth implementation of the national connectivity program as regulated in Presidential Instruction No. 26/2013 on National Logistics System.

In a presidential debate in June, Jokowi revealed his program on the sea transportation system, which he called Maritime Toll Road scheme.

Therefore, Hugua noted that Wakatobi, located on the national shipping lane, has huge potential to function as a hub and transit port in the eastern region of Indonesia.

"If Wakatobi plays its role in an effective manner, the district will become a new economic zone in Indonesia," he emphasized.

According to him, the dock of Panggulubelo has been extended to accommodate and dock large ships belonging to the state shipping company, PT PELNI.