President Jokowi Inaugurates New Sugar Factory in Southeast Sulawesi

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 22 Oktober 2020
Category: News
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President Jokowi inspects sugar factory in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Thursday (22/10). (Photo by: BPMI – Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, on Thursday (22/10), inspected sugar cane harvest and inaugurated a sugar factory in Bombana Regency, Southeast Sulawesi during his working visit to the province.

In his remarks, the President appreciated the decision to open a factory that is integrated with sugarcane plantation.

“It is a form of bravery, a bravery to invest and start business in this region. We must appreciate and respect the decision,” he said.

He went on to say that the factory which construction was started three years ago has started its operations. The integrated factory and plantation can absorb up to 15,000 workforce.

“Opening an industry, a factory, and the most important is creating new jobs for the community. I want to stress on that point,” he added.

Furthermore, the President said that the demand of sugar in Indonesia stood at 5.8 million tons per year, while the country can only produce 2.1 million tons per year. Therefore, Indonesia depends on imported sugar in order to meet domestic demand.

“Once again, we must appreciate the new factory in Bombana since it can reduce imports. It means that (the factory) could improve the country’s foreign exchange and strengthen current account balance,” he explained.

Before inaugurating the factory, President Jokowi accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, and Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Ali Mazi inspected sugar cane harvest located in the factory complex. The President and his entourage also inspected warehouse of the factory.

For the record, Bombana sugar factory that is operated by PT Prima Alam Gemilang adopts modern technology including automation. The factory, that began operations since August, has a maximum production capacity of 12,000 tons of cane per day and can produce 800–1,200 tons of sugar per day.  (TGH/BPMI/UN)

 

 

Translated by: Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana

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