Road improvements facilitate the economic activities of SMEs
The plan of the Provincial Government of North Sumatra (Pemprov) to rehabilitate the Independence Pioneer Road in Galang District was enthusiastically welcomed by the public and business community. It is believed that these infrastructure improvements will facilitate mobility, increase economic activity and revive the activity of MSMEs in the area.
These hopes were strengthened after the Governor of North Sumatra, Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, made a direct visit to Galang District, Deliserdang Regency, together with the ranks of the Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) of the Provincial Government of North Sumatra.
LATEST NEWS: Bobby Nasution urges integrity within the government apparatus
During the visit, Bobby confirmed that he would follow up on community complaints regarding damage to the 3-kilometer Lubukpakam-Tanah Abang stretch and the 2-kilometer Tanah Abang-Galang-Serdangbedagai Regency stretch.
During the community dialogue, Bobby developed several ambitions, especially regarding the condition of the damaged roads, which would hinder residents’ activities and the distribution of business results. According to him, this section of road is the most important corridor that plays a strategic role in supporting community mobility and economic growth in the Galang area and its environs.
The road improvement plan was positively received by the community, especially SMEs. They hope that better access to transportation can reduce distribution costs, ease the flow of goods and services and stimulate more economic activity.
LATEST NEWS: The Dekranasda of North Sumatra strengthens SMEs based on local knowledge
The owner of Rafa Bakery, Dian Ardiansyah, admitted that he really supports the road improvement plan. According to him, the damage to the road has had a major impact on the continuity of his company.
“As business partners, we are of course very happy to hear that this road will be repaired. During the rainy season, customers do not want to visit because the road is flooded. On the other hand, during the dry season, dust enters the store and contaminates the display case and equipment. We even have problems delivering orders outside the store,” he says.
Lamhot Service owner Poltak Nadapdap said the same. He said the damage to roads caused over the past two years had worsened in the past year.
“The large gap right in front of my workshop is very disturbing. Many customers do not want to come, which affects company revenues and employee salaries,” he said.
Meanwhile, the owner of Alsabila photocopy company, Resy Br Karo, admitted that dust is the biggest problem faced in every dry season.
LATEST NEWS: Steps taken by Bank Indonesia to strengthen the sovereignty of the national payment system
“There is a lot of dust. We have to clean the display cases repeatedly. Trucks have been passing by almost non-stop since dawn. Copiers and printers are very sensitive to dust, which often damages them. If we close the store curtains to keep out dust, people will think the store is not open,” he said.
According to Resy, the damaged roads also caused many students to take alternate routes, reducing the number of customers coming to his store.
“We hope that after the roads are repaired, community activity will return and the economic turnover of MSMEs in Galang City will increase,” he hoped.
Business actors and Jalan Perintis Independen also believe that infrastructure improvements will have a direct impact on the community’s economy. Mobility becomes smoother, the distribution of goods becomes more efficient and customer access to business centers becomes easier.
LATEST NEWS: Kahiyang Ayu encourages women to undergo regular health checks
The community also hopes that the road construction will be completed quickly and will be accompanied by the checking of over-tonnage vehicles so that the quality of the roads can be maintained in the long term.
“Good roads will facilitate economic activity, increase the competitiveness of community businesses and encourage regional economic growth. Therefore, improving infrastructure is an urgent need for the people of Galang,” said Reny, a Galang resident who owns a mobile phone company. ***rel
