"The Industry Ministry has decided to declare 2012 petrochemical year in conjunction with the establishment of Petrochemical `Centers of Excellence` (CoE) in three or four regions, including Banten," Hidayat said in Serang on Wednesday.
He said the first CoE was to be set up in Banten because the a province`s chemical industries were growing well.
Indonesia needs to develop its upstream and downstream petrochemical industries in order to end its reliance on imported petrochemical products, he said.
"Until now, many of industrial products still contain imported chemicals ," he added.
Hidayat said a petrochemical CoE was to be built in Banten as a large South Korean chemical company was to invest in the country.
The Petrochemical CoE would be built in the middle of Serang City, Banten`s provincial capital.
Meanwhile, Panggah Susanto, director general of manufacturing industries at the Industry Ministry, said a Petrochemical CoE would be a hub for development of process and products technology, standardization of processes and products, devising investment strategies , marketing information and logistical systems.
"It is also for development of human resources in petrochemical industry," he said.
The Petrochemical CoE would be housed in a five-storey building to be set up on a 3,800-square-meter plot of land in two stages and expected to be completed in 2013.
"The CoE in Banten will be a pilot project. Similar centers will be established in other regions such as East Java and East Kalimantan," Panggah said.
Meanwhile, Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah thanked the central government for choosing Banten to set up the first CoE, "We do hope with the presence of a national CoE in Banten, we will be able to increase the competitiveness of the region`s chemical industries."
She said Banten had 19 industrial areas hosting a total of 1,652 large-, medium- and small-scale chemical industries.
(T.A060/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
