Government to Build 10 Factories Commercially, to Pursue Sugar Self-Sufficiency

Government to Build 10 Factories Commercially, to Pursue Sugar Self-Sufficiency

Vice President Jusuf Kalla evaluated that almost all sugar factories in Indonesia, the Dutch colonial heritages, have the same problems which are the ineffective and inefficient performances because of the inadequate supporting powers of production, therefore they gained sustainable loss instead of profit.

For that reason, the government has a plan to revitalize them by building 10 new sugar factories Java Island to create the sugar self-sufficiency in the future. “Build 10 sugar factories in Java, then we will be self-sufficient,” Jusuf Kalla said it when he responded the presentation from the Main Director of PTPN IX Adi Prasongko in his visit to Mojo Sugar Factory in Sragen, Central Java, on Friday afternoon.

With the new, modern, and sophisticated factory, the Vice President expected an increasing productivity therefore it will impact the local sugar cane farmers.

In that opportunity, Vice President Jusuf Kalla asked about the competency and how long it will take by PTPN IX to realize those new factory constructions. “In two years, Sir,” the Main Director of PTPN IX said it.

In addition to factory matters, the Vice President also emphasized how important to increase the harvest of sugar cane farmers with superior seeds, from 70 tons of sugar cane per hectare to 100 tons of sugar cane per hectare. Thus, the sugar production is expected to be increased significantly, from the old factory that is able to process 6000 TCD (Ton Cane per Day) to 10000 TCD with the new technology of factory. The sugar produced will have more quality therefore it can compete in global market.

To the factory manager, the Vice President told them to apply the adequate standard of modern food factory in the cultivation of factory environment particularly the aspects of hygiene and health, since during this time the Vice President assessed the sugar factory is always dirty and rundown.

“It must be clean so that the Director can sleep on the floor,” the Vice President said it with smile and the audience laughed.

Commercial

While the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil revealed that the revitalization and new factory construction will be funded commercially. The government will interfere so that the bank will give loans to sugar factories since the sugar production is profitable economically.

“The government only need to repair the process of sugar cane ingredients availability and increase its production quality,” the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs uttered it.

Accompanying Vice President Jusuf Jalla in his visit to Mojo Sugar Factory were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Trading Affairs Rahmat Gobel and Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo. The visit was part of working visit serial to West Java, Central Java, and West Java since Thursday until Saturday. (SetwapresRI/ES)