TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in visiting Lake Toba ‘super-priority tourism destination’ said he is optimistic that the construction of the herbal and horticulture technology science park (TSTH2) in the Pollung region will be completed within schedule.

“The team is optimistic that the entire building structure will be constructed in October and in the second quarterly of 2023 will see facilities and other phase one constructions completed and functional,” said Luhut in a written statement on Tuesday, July 19.

The current construction has seen basic constructions such as a screen house, greenhouse, and stone fences built within a radius of the facility that is located inside a forest. This place will serve a role as a research and development headquarter in the future.

This TSTH2 facility is hoped to become the site for excellent research, conservation, and development of herbal and horticulture medicines. Luhut Pandjaitan expects to see research on herbal genomics developed in this location and become a place for horticultural plant breeding, biodiversity conservation in Indonesia, as well as genetic analysis for breeding.

TSTH2 will be a joint effort with China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Beijing Genomic Institute to conserve and innovate herbal plants.

"Through a genetic-based approach, we hope to immediately get superior seeds from plants, one of which is garlic that is in accordance with the agro-climatology and local characteristics of the land," said Luhut.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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