"We are following the president's directive to immediately help any State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and national private companies that wish to build industries for the import of substitute products," he said in a written statement on Saturday.
Lahadalia lauded the cooperation between the Ministry of Investment and PT Petrokimia Gresik, along with other ministries, in accommodating the licensing process and facilitating the acceleration of the investment project.
The Ministry of Investment will continue to monitor the soda ash construction project, which has an investment value that reached Rp4.5 trillion, and is expected to be completed within the next three years.
Lahadalia encourages the SOEs to optimize the entire potential of its industry's raw materials so they could be utilized and provide additional value.
With this, the SOEs can receive a profit that would increase the state's revenues and its results would benefit the people in the form of construction, he added.
"We will encourage and support, both from an incentive standpoint and licensing. If there is any problem, please come to the Ministry of Investment for assistance," he emphasized.
Related news: Petrokimia Gresik inks MoU for soda ash factory establishment
Meanwhile, Primary Director of PT Petrokimia Gresik Dwi Satriyo Annurogo stated that soda ash is a commodity whose demand has reached one million per ton per year, which the nation is still currently importing.
This soda ash project can fulfill Indonesia market's need and become an import substitute product, he added.
"We expressed our gratitude for the full support and assistance from the Ministry of Investment for the construction of the soda ash factory in this PT Petrokimia Gresik land," Annurogo said.
The soda ash project is a response to an increasing industry's need, which will grow to four percent per year.
This is also driven by the growth of other industries, such as glass and ceramic, soap, and detergent.
PT Petrokimia Gresik plans to produce up to 300.000 tons of soda ash per year in order to substitute for the imports that have reached US$75 million per year.
In addition, the raw materials have been produced by one of the factories belonging to PT Petrokimia Gresik, which also already has an accommodating infrastructure.
Related news: Petrokimia Gresik exported 3,176 tons ZK fertilizer until August 14
Translator: Ade irma Junida, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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