TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government says seaweed downstream will be one of its main programs in 2025, continuing the commodity downstream run by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's government.

"Seaweed will be more inclusive and sustainable as it is renewable," said Amalia A. Widyasanti, Deputy for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), when met after an event in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, June 26.

According to Amalia, the seaweed downstream program must be implemented in Indonesia to add value because Indonesia is the world's number two seaweed producer after China. The number of seaweed farmers in Indonesia is also huge, so the seaweed downstream program will have an impact on the economy.

"This will improve the income and welfare of the farmers," she said.

Amalia said some investors were interested in the seaweed project. She did not reveal any names or the amount of investment yet but claimed that it would be big. "We'll see," she remarked.

According to Antara, Indonesia produced 10.7 million tons of wet seaweed in 2023, of which 77 percent was used to produce food and beverages. The remaining 23 percent was used for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.

President Jokowi has previously said that the government was ready to boost the seaweed downstream program after the mine downstream in 2020.

On August 10, 2023, Jokowi said before the media at the State Palace that the idea of seaweed downstream came during his visit to Germany. In the country, he continued, seaweed is used as an alternative energy and it absorbs quite a large amount of carbon.

With such a huge potential, Jokowi will push the seaweed industry by first ensuring its availability in the market and seeking investors.

RIRI RAHAYU | TEMPO.CO | ANTARA

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