Sorong, Southwest Papua (ANTARA) - The Southwest Papua Provincial Government strongly supports a Chinese investor's plan to build a nickel smelter and steel plant in the Sorong Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The Governor's expert staff for economy, finance, and development, George Yarangga, said here on Sunday that government supports the investment in Sorong SEZ, in order to encourage economic growth.

"Basically, the local government is very supportive of the presence of investors from China," he explained.

The investment on the nickel smelter and steel plant development is needed to optimize the Sorong SEZ as what has been targeted by the central government, he said.

Yarangga said Acting Governor of Southwest Papua Muhammad Musa'ad is committed to developing Sorong SEZ to increase economic growth in the Papua region.

"It is important to synergize well, so that the nickel smelter and steel plant construction in the Sorong SEZ can run well," he said.

To this end, the Southwest Papua Government, Sorong District Government, and Sheng Wei New Energy Technology held a limited meeting in Sorong City on Friday (March 16) to discuss the preparation for the smelter plant in the Sorong SEZ.

According to Yarangga, the investment is a great opportunity for the Sorong SEZ to grow and develop in a better direction.

He explained that the provincial and local governments have collaborated to prepare the smelter construction.

"When there are problems in the investment processes, we must resolve them with government intervention so that the process of accelerating investment of this smelter plant can run well," he said.

Director of PT Sheng Wei New Energy Technology Ru Guo Sheng said that he was very happy with the warm welcome regarding the company's willingness to invest in the Sorong SEZ.

According to him, by carrying out the green economy program, the entire investment process can run according to plan.

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Translator: Yuvensius B, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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