TRANSPORT IN INDONESIA: RECENT DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

Indonesia’s transport system was formed largely based on the economic resource base of the archipelago, which consists of more than 17,800 Islands, on which the country is located. The Indonesian Central government’s spending on transport has increased significantly in recent years. This allowed the country to expand its transport network and improve access to remote areas of the archipelago. Maritime navigation provides a link between different parts of the country. On some Islands, where there are no good roads, the main transport connection is via large rivers. The most important direction of the country’s transport policy is the development of high-speed cargo and passenger sea connections with the most remote and inaccessible regions of the country, primarily with the Eastern part of Indonesia. A variety of vehicles are used on the roads of Indonesia. Bus routes are laid in all areas that have access to the road network. Since 2004, the TransJakarta rapid bus system has been operating in the country. Most of Indonesia’s Railways are located in Java and are used for both passenger and freight transport. In March 2019, the Jakarta metro started operating. Indonesia’s air transport is the most important means of communication between thousands of Islands throughout the archipelago and other countries. Many residents of the country have switched from land and sea transport to faster and more comfortable air transportation. Indonesia, like other countries, was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Further development of transport depends on how quickly the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and how effectively the authorities deal with its consequences.