REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) holds the groundbreaking ceremony of the Grand Design of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Thursday. Soekarno-Hatta Airport will be developed into aerotropolis as the international airport is overcapacity. 

Aerotropolis is an urban plan in which the layout, infrastructure, and economy is centered around an airport, existing as an airport city. It will be equipped with entertainment, shopping center, business, and hotel.

SBY said the development was on time and on target. Five reasons, he said, supported the development. The first one is Indonesian economic growth, which is in 6 percent with Indonesia Gross Domestic Product reaches one trillion USD. 

"The growth, the needs, and flight service are increasing," SBY said.

Second reason is that ASEAN region, Southeast Asia, and East Asia has agreed to increase the connectivity. Before connecting Indonesia with other regions, the domestic connectivity must be built. Next is that government has the master plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia. 

"We will allocate bigger budget for infrastructure then open more opportunities of investment," he said.

The fourth reason is for the preparation towards the upcoming ASEAN Economy Community, while the last is to obtain more profits, such as creating job opportunity and forming subsidiary industry.

The Executive Director of Angkasa Pura II (AP II), Tri S Sunoko, said Soekarno-Hatta was among the busiest airport in the world. "The development of Soekarno-Hatta Airport is the answer to the over-capacity issue. With the capacity only 22 million passengers per year, Soekarno-Hatta serves 51.5 million passengers," he said.

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