"The development of bio-chemical industry in Indonesia needs a serious management because it has not yet become a favorite sector for investors," the minister said when he opened an international seminar "From Petrochemical to Bio Chemicals" here on Wednesday.
The minister said that although Indonesia was the world`s biggest crude palm oil (CPO) producer, yet the number of businesses processing CPO into a bio-chemical by-product was still small.
This could be seen, he said, from the fact that CPO product produced in Indonesia did not reach the down stream industry.
Whereas in a number of countries in Asia, the development of biochemical industry has begun to increase such in India and China.
He cited India as an example which he said had developed biochemical as a fuel oil product and as a raw material for chemical industries, both upstream and down stream industries.
"The same is true to China, which has been processing CPO into a biodiesel product," he said.
The minister said that the development of biochemical industry would increase the added value of vegetable products such as CPO and produce raw material substitutes for petrochemical industry.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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