Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed the hope that the Mandalika Circuit, which was inaugurated on Friday, will revive economic growth in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province.
"This is a big event that will be annually held at the Mandalika Circuit, and it will certainly have an impact on economic growth in NTB province," the President remarked at the Mandalika Circuit inauguration, according to a statement released by the press bureau of the Presidential Secretariat here on Friday.
The circuit for the World Superbike event is located in the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK), Central Lombok, NTB.
Widodo said he believes that international sports events such as this year's World Superbike and MotoGP in March 2022 will fuel hopes of growth in the region's economy.
"We will try (to implement) this World Superbike first, then MotoGP. After that, we will evaluate and see which direction we should continue," he added.
The Mandalika Circuit is managed by the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). ITDC is a part of InJourney, a state-owned holding that focuses on the tourism sector.
The President also inaugurated a bypass road connecting Lombok International Airport with the circuit on Friday.
The bypass road stretches about 17.3 km and cuts travel time from the airport to Mandalika Circuit to just 15 minutes.
"Alhamdulillah, we should be grateful that the 17.3-kilometer bypass road construction between the Lombok International Airport and Mandalika is completed and ready for use," Widodo announced.
Moreover, he rode his motorbike on the circuit before inaugurating the Mandalika Circuit.
The President had to be careful during the ride as early rains had made the circuit, which has sharp turns, wet.
Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives Bambang Soesatyo, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and SOEs Minister Erick Thohir accompanied the President to the Mandalika Circuit.
Minister of Investment/head of Capital Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia, Governor of NTB, Zulkieflimansyah, and president director of ITDC, Abdulbar Mansoer, were also present at the inauguration.
