The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has approved a US$1.45 million grant to support the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS) project in Indonesia.

The project proposed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) involves the development of a 136.9-km toll road section of JTTS between Cinto Kenang and Sentjalang in Sumatra's Jambi and Riau provinces. 

The MCDF grant will finance the following activities:

• A socioeconomic study and a baseline survey on biodiversity that will be used as inputs by the Indonesian government to create its environmental impact assessment and land purchase plan;
• A road safety review of the road engineering design comprising all the economical design recommendations based on international best practices;
• A strategic environmental and social assessment to help the government realise its goals of promoting sustainable economic growth on Sumatra Island and comprehend the secondary effects of the JTTS alignment.