Washington DC – Commercial Director of PT Pembangunan Aceh (PEMA) Perseroda, Almer Hafis Sandy attended the invitation to the Indonesia-US Business Forum in Washington D.C., United States on Monday, August 26, 2024 in order to promote the Aceh Industrial Estate (KIA) Ladong which is one of PT PEMA’s business units.
The event was organized by the US-ASEAN Business Council in cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy, the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in New York, and the Indonesian Investment Promotion Center in New York, focusing on enhancing economic relations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
The business forum emphasized the strong diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the US that have existed for 75 years, especially after the two countries agreed to upgrade the status of the partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). One important step in strengthening this cooperation is to increase US investment in Indonesia.
The event also featured a high-level panel discussion on the progress of the Indonesia-US Strategic Partnership for sustainable economic growth, which discussed Indonesia’s investment priorities and PT PEMA was selected through a national selection by Bank Indonesia to attend by promoting its strategic investment project, KIA Ladong which is targeted to be the center of halal industry and downstream in Aceh with a focus on Halal industrial products, manufacturing, chemicals, energy, minerals and logistics.
In addition to the KIA Ladong Aceh project, Bank Indonesia also presented other strategic projects in Indonesia, namely, the Batang Integrated Industrial area in Central Java, the Geothermal Power Plant Project at Umbul Telomoyo Temple, Central Java; and the Copper Processing Industry in East Java. The selection of these four projects is based on the results of Bank Indonesia’s curation with the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) New York to be offered to investors in the US, with consideration of investor interest in the project.
Almer in his presentation related to KIA Ladong conveyed several important points related to the general description and supporting facilities owned by KIA Ladong. “Through this activity, it is hoped that the world can better recognize the strategic position of Aceh through KIA Ladong, located at the entrance to the Malacca Strait which is passed by more than 90,000 ships each year. So that it can enter the radar and attract investors to be able to invest and develop their business in Aceh with a very strategic area.”, said Almer.
KIA Ladong itself is an area established by the Aceh Government which is located 20 KM from the Banda Aceh City Center. The KIA Ladong Industrial Estate Business License (IUKI) was issued in 2018. In accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 18 of 2020 KIA Ladong is included in the development plan of 36 industrial estates in Indonesia. The management of KIA Ladong is under PT PEMA, and currently has provided ±71.4 Ha of land from a total development of 250 Ha for the construction of various industries (various industries). With the commitment to build a Geothermal power plant by one of PEMA’s subsidiaries located 22km from KIA Ladong, it is expected to supply green energy so that companies operating in the area will get a “Green Industry” certificate.
Thus it is expected that investors / tenants can invest in the Aceh Ladong Industrial Estate. With the availability of adequate land, facilities and infrastructure and other facilities, it will be easier for investors to set up their factories in Aceh, than if each investor has to provide these facilities themselves.
The event received support from prominent members of the US-ASEAN Business Council, including Apple, The Walt Disney Company, Freeport-McMoRan, and Visa, who emphasized the importance of partnership and the mutual benefits of economic collaboration between the US and Indonesia.
