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Forkestra 2024 Focuses on Agglomeration and Downstreaming
WINDONESIA September 29, 2024
BI Southeast Sulawesi Head Doni Septadijaya giving a speech at Forkerstra 2024. (Radio Republik Indonesia)
Bank Indonesia (BI) Southeast Sulawesi Province Representative Office has held Southeast Sulawesi Economic Forum (Forkestra) National Seminar 2024, the fourth edition of the annual event.
The seminar, which was held at a hotel in Kendari City on Sep. 26, 2024, has "Encouraging Industrial Agglomeration and Inter-Regional Cooperation to Improve the Sustainable Economy of Southeast Sulawesi," as its theme.
BI Southeast Sulawesi Head Doni Septadijaya emphasized during his speech about the importance of agglomeration and downstreaming in encouraging more integrated economic growth in Southeast Sulawesi.
"So far, Southeast Sulawesi has only focused on industrial downstreaming, but agglomeration as an integrated economic area has not been running optimally," he noted.
Doni explained that Forkestra 2024 aims to explore scientific ideas from various levels of society, including students, which are expected to contribute to regional economic development.
"The theme we are raising this year is in line with the government's program to encourage industrial downstreaming as one of the pillars towards Advanced Indonesia. However, downstreaming alone is not enough without being supported by the development of integrated industrial areas through agglomeration," he added.
Doni also emphasized the importance of food downstreaming in Southeast Sulawesi, considering the great potential that the province has. He highlighted how Southeast Sulawesi is too dependent on selling raw products to other regions. Instead, the added value of local products could be increased significantly if said potential is utilized optimally.
"If local products are processed here and marketed well, the income of the people of Southeast Sulawesi will also increase," he said.
As part of Forkestra 2024's series of events, a cooperation contract was signed between the Kendari City Government and the South Buton Regency Government. This cooperation is expected to encourage synergy between regions in the development of integrated industrial areas.
Forkestra 2024 was attended by officials from various government agencies and hundreds of students, who discussed strategic steps to strengthen the economy of Southeast Sulawesi. The discussion is expected to generate new and innovative ideas that could encourage more optimal industrial downstreaming and agglomeration.
Meanwhile, BI Southeast Sulawesi is committed to continuing to play an active role in encouraging sustainable economic development in Southeast Sulawesi, especially through strengthening industrial downstreaming and synergy between regions.
Source: sultrakini.com