"In the Central Kalimantan region, one of the strategic downstream investments focuses on the plantation sector," the ministry's special staff, M. Azhar Lubis, representing Acting Deputy for Strategic Downstream Investment Heldy Satrya Putera, stated in a coordination meeting in Palangka Raya, Thursday.
He explained that the Central Kalimantan Province was selected for preparing the downstreaming efforts in the plantation sector, as it is one of the nation's palm oil plantation centers.
"The main commodity in plantations is palm oil, and there will also be the development of other commodities related to downstreaming," Lubis said.
According to Lubis, the palm oil raw material and its derivatives can also be processed to produce pharmaceutical goods.
Lubis noted that the coordination meeting on finalizing the roadmap followed up on President Joko Widodo's directive to bolster the downstreaming of the country's own raw resources, so that no further exports of raw materials would take place in future.
"We are discussing and finalizing (the roadmap) about strategic matters needed to support this downstream investment roadmap, such as infrastructure improvements and others," he explained.
Meanwhile, Head of the Central Kalimantan Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP) Sutoyo explained that the roadmap is expected to provide a foundation for policy and synergy in encouraging downstream investment, especially in Central Kalimantan.
He pointed out that based on the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) of Central Kalimantan, the western region, encompassing Lamandau, Sukamara, Kotawaringin Barat, Kotawaringin Timur, and Seruyan, has huge potential for the development of strategic downstream investment in the plantation sector.
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Translator: M Hidayat, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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