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Agriculture Ministry Attracts Livestock Investment to Central Sulawesi
September 29, 2024The Agriculture Ministry brought investors from Vietnam to invest in the livestock sector of Central Sulawesi Province. The investment is a follow-up of Amran's visit to Vietnam some time ago.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that the investment was in the form of developing a dairy cattle industry and a milk processing industry to support President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's programs and policies in the livestock sector, and the the free milk drinking program of President-elect Prabowo Subianto.
"The investors, Alhamdulillah, they are interested in investing in Poso Regency. We received direction from the President and the President-elect for us to develop livestock, dairy cattle for milk production here," Amran explained while reviewing the relevant investment land in Napu Valley, Poso Regency on Sep. 25, 2024.
"The (investor) is the largest company in milk production. If the investment goes smoothly, the three to five year production target will be 1.8 million tons." Amran revealed.
Meanwhile, it is known that Indonesia still needed to import 3.7 million tons of dairy products to meet domestic milk needs.
"That means that we meet half of the import needs per year [if said milk production target is met]," he said.
Amran also hopes that local governments and related policy makers will become extensions of the central government to support the program. Hence, acceleration of the investment's progress needs to be carried out so that these investors do not shift to another country.
"To the people of Poso, the people of Central Sulawesi, please monitor it well. This company already has branches in America, New Zealand, Russia, and Australia. We need to welcome this company well," he requsted.
Amran reiterated that the purpose of the investment is to improve the welfare of farmers, reduce imports, open up jobs, reduce unemployment, and reduce poverty.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi said that the Vietnamese comapny's investment to help achieve the Golden Indonesia VIsion depends on the land that has been prepared for them.
"The available land is around 6,000 hectares (ha), which could be expanded to 60,000 ha and even 100,000 ha. With 100,000 hectares, the land could produce 1.8 million tons [of milk] with an investment value approaching one billion dollars," he said.
Meanwhile, East Lore District Head Ferdianto Tarakolo welcomed the investment and expressed his gratitude to the Agriculture Ministry, and gave his support for the program.
"We express our gratitude to the central government, and the Agriculture Minister for visiting our area, which has the potential for dairy cattle development, as the initial step of utilizing the Right to Manage land. As the local government that represents the local community, we respond positively to this plan because it will open up employment opportunities and improve nutrition," he stated.