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East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas'ud (Harum) and Deputy Governor Seno Aji received a visit from Taiwanese entrepreneurs led by Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) Representative Office Head Bruce Cen Jung Hung. Seno explained various facilities and potential investment opportunities in East Kalimantan to the TETO delegation. He also detailed various transportation infrastructures supporting investment to the province.
"East Kalimantan has other advantages in the fields of political stability and security," said Seno at the East Kalimantan Governor's Office on May 16, 2025.
Another advantage is the abundant natural resources across East Kalimantan. Moreover, the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), which the province envelops, has caused a very large amount of development funds to enter East Kalimantan.
"Another advantage is East Kalimantan's location on the ALKI (Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane) II route that connects Australia directly to China," Seno elaborated.
Moreover, he noted that the potential for downstream industries in East Kalimantan is available in several regencies and cities in the province. For example, East Kutai has potential in palm oil and bananas, some of which are currently exported abroad, while West Kutai has the potential for a durian processing industry.
"Taiwanese entrepreneurs can [also] develop a rubber processing industry in West Kutai," said the Deputy Governor.
Meanwhile, the quartz sand industry in Kutai Kertanegara is among the investment opportunities that are in demand, with the commodity predicted to reach hundreds of billions of tons in demand. Thus, the regency has the potential for the development of a silicon factory.
"We are very interested in the quartz sand investment plan, it is very important for our induestries. I also hope to continue further communication, because we need it quickly," said one of the Taiwanese businesspeople.
In addition, the Mahakam Ulu Regency, which has a border with Malaysia, has the potential for chocolate development, while Bontang Regency already has palm oil downstreaming. Taiwanese entrepreneurs can create a new palm oil processing industry and other opportunities for the fish canning industry. The last downstreaming potential presented by Seno Aji is North Penajam Paser Regency, which directly borders the IKN.
"In North Penajam Paser, there is potential for the development of an animal feed industry, cattle farming, and others," explained the Deputy Governor.
After listening to Seno's presentation, the Taiwanese businesspeople in general admitted that they were happy to see the availability of many business opportunities in East Kalimantan. Several of them admitted that they wanted to do business manufacturing wood into furniture, while others are more focused on plans to develop green energy. There are also some potential Taiwanese investors who are interested in doing business in the fields of education and health.
"East Kalimantan is in my heart. I want to work with East Kalimantan again in various potential [investments]," said Iwan, one of the bankers who participated in funding the construction of the Fugo Hotel a decade ago.
