The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) of South Sulawesi Province (Sulsel) has welcomed the arrival of the Trans Sulawesi railway.

Vice Chairman of the Development Planning and Consultancy Division of the South Sulawesi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Satriya Madjid, said that the presence of the Trans Sulawesi Railway has had an impact on the economy in the region.

‘We welcome and are very optimistic that the presence of this train can generate new centres of economic growth that can emerge from the Trans Sulawesi Railway,’ Satriya said (23/8).

Satriya said that tourism is a sector that will receive a positive impact with this railway. He took an example, not far from Maros Station, many tourist destinations are a mainstay, such as the Rammang-Rammang Area and Bantimurung Tourism.

‘Of course, the benefits obtained by the region in terms of tourist destinations are directly obtained,’ he explained.

Not only that, the existence of the Trans Sulawesi Railway can also be a new business field such as the transport business that goes directly to tourist destinations.

‘Of course there is a part of it, how to organise from this station to the tourist attraction. The modal switch between modes. Well, this is a new source of business that can arise from the existence of this railway,’ explained Satriya.

However, Satriya believes that not only the tourism sector will be affected by the Trans Sulawesi Railway, but other sectors such as fisheries and marine will also be affected.

‘I see it not only tourism. There are many things, along our longest coastline in Sulawesi, the fisheries and marine sector. This is extraordinary,’ he said.

As is known, the Makassar-Parepare railway project is included in the National Strategic Project (PSN) based on Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 58 of 2017. This project has been inaugurated by President Joko Widodo since March 2023.

So far, the Makassar-Parepare railway has been operated with 2 travel routes, namely crossing Mandai Station to Garongkong Station along 83 KM and crossing Garongkong Station to Mangilu Station along 60 KM with a total of 11 stations that have been operating.