TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The construction of integrated industrial zones across Eastern Indonesia will require around Rp660 billion to commence—equivalent to US$50 million. The large nature of the construction means that the government needs to be able to ensure the continued availability of energy to investors wishing to partake in the project.
"The government also needs a different set of approach and permits for these areas," said the head of Investment, Banking, and the Development of Indonesia's Eastern Regions for the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN), Reza V Maspaitella, at Borobudur Hotel on Monday.
On the occasion, KADIN revealed that it planned to establish integrated industrial and commerce zones in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), South Sulawesi, as well as Maluku. NTB will be developed into a center for animal husbandry and farming, whereas South Sulawesi and Maluku will focus on the chocolate and soybean trade. Maluku will also be developed into a national center for fisheries and the trade for maritime products. "We plan to construct shipyards, cold storages, as well as fish auction sites complete with its own co-op shops," said Reza.
KADIN's deputy chairman for the East, Annar Salahuddin Sampetoding, said that KADIN would continue to push for further growth in Eastern Indonesia by promoting public-to-private partnerships. "We aim at speeding up the growth of the fisheries, farming, agriculture, and the manufacturing sectors through the construction of infrastructure," he said.
It is known that the Industry Ministry is currently prioritizing the development of seven areas across Eastern Indonesia, viz. Bitung in North Sulawesi; Palu, Morowali, and Konawe in Central Sulawesi; Bantaeng in South Sulawesi; Buli in North Maluku, and Bintuni Bay in West Papua.
In order to achieve such goals, the ministry has called on the local governments to construct factories, roads, waste management systems, and exhibition spaces with high standard. The director general for industrial zoning for the Industry Ministry said that his office aimed at facilitating the development of 22 small-to-medium industrial zones in the next five years. "We want the economic growth to assume more local characteristics," he said.
Especially for Papua, the Minister for Public Works and Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, has said that his ministry is prepared to support the acceleration of the development of the industrial zone in Timika regency—which forms an integral part of the smelter unit jointly managed by the Indonesian government and Freeport Indonesia. The industrial zone will contain a cement-bagging factory, a fertilizer plant and other petrochemical manufacturing facilities, which will be built across 650 hectares.
ALI HIDAYAT | PINGIT ARIA | ROBBY IRFANY
