Central Sulawesi Must Focus on Mining, Plantation, Forestry Sectors: President Jokowi

President Jokowi, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, presides over a limited cabinet meeting on the development in Central Sulawesi at the Presidential Office, Thursday (9/3 (Photo by: JAY/Public Relations Division)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that economic growth in Central Sulawesi Province is currently at 9.98 percent, far higher than that in 2016 at 5.02 percent.

Therefore, the President hopes that this momentum could be maintained, the growth could be further improved. “We hope this economic growth momentum can help efforts to alleviate poverty in which poverty level in Central Sulawesi Province is still at 14.09 percent. And we also hope the momentum can accelerate efforts to realize development equality,” the President said in his introductory remarks before a limited cabinet meeting on evaluation of the implementation of national strategic projects and priority programs in Central Sulawesi Province at the Presidential Office, Jakarta Thursday (9/3).

President Jokowi also hopes that the provincial government could concentrate on developing primary sectors that become core business in the Province. According to the Government’s data, mining sector particularly nickel, has grown rapidly in the Province.

In addition, President Jokowi also considers that the Province has quite big potentials in the plantation sector such as cacao, coffee, coconut, and clove. “Those primary commodities can become the basis for the growth of people-based economy in Central Sulawesi,” President Jokowi said.

In the meantime, in the forestry sector, President Jokowi said that Central Sulawesi has the potentials in forestry products such as rattan and various kinds of woods including Ebony and Meranti. Therefore, the President hopes commodities from agriculture, forestry, and mining sectors can be processed first in the Province so they can give added values and multiplier effect for the locals.

As for the economic transformation in Central Sulawesi marked by the growth of mining and processing industries, mining sector, and processing industry sector, the President said, must be well-prepared. Therefore, the President hopes that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Palu and Morowali are able to accommodate the growth of processing industries. “I was informed that a smelter plant and a stainless steel plant have been operating in Morowali SEZ,” he further said.

Furthermore, President Jokowi also stressed the importance to prepare the development of an SEZ in Palu.

“Do pay attention to the readiness of supporting infrastructures starting from electricity, clean water, and houses for workers, as well as measures to improve their skills and education especially for local workers,” the President said adding that he hopes that development in Central Sulawesi, especially in the SEZ, will also seriously pay attention to the environmental preservation aspect and avoid creating pollution.

Also attending the meeting were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro, and Governor of Central Sulawesi Longki Djanggola. (SM/FID/JAY/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)