Jadi Gerbang Utama IKN, Bahlil Mendorong Universitas Lambung Mangkurat Jadi Pusat Ketahanan Pangan

Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia welcomed and encouraged Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), South Kalimantan to become a national food security campus, a wetland research center, and mangroves in the world.

"So the rector's order earlier, I will meet the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Environment and Forestry so that the plan must be executed immediately for the good of the campus," Bahlil said in his statement, Friday, May 3.

Previously, in the ULM Chancellor's remarks, Ahmad Alim Bachri, said that his party planned ULM to become a national food security campus, a wetland research center, and a world mangrove because the existence of ULM in South Kalimantan is the main potential gate for IKN.

Meanwhile, Ahmad explained that in his planning an international port would be built. In addition, as a campus, ULM is expected to play a role in securing it from an environmental perspective.

"Isn't the international port of IKN going to be in South Kalimantan, in Kota Baru Regency which will be connected by toll roads with a distance of 1.5 hours from the Penajam Paser Utara Regency, so that ULM is already in the vicinity of the plan to build an international port with efforts to secure the port environment," said Ahmad.

Ahmad added that his party had proposed to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to control a magnitude of 621 hectares to be used as a research center for wetland and mangroves in the world.

"With the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, we propose to control a mangrove area of 621 hectares and the information has been entered to wait for the KLHK's approval," he said.

According to Bahlil, the transfer of IKN to Kalimantan will make economic benefits for other buffer areas such as South Kalimantan and North Kalimantan.

So, who do we want to move IKN to? First Kalimantan, all of Kalimantan are the buffers. Now look, first, the economy in Kaltara will definitely benefit from it in the future. And this is the best city planning concern, which is used is 30 percent, 70 percent of nature. This is one of the best cities in the world. And I was told to lead the investment," Bahlil said at the public lecture.

In addition to collaborating with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Chancellor of ULM Ahmad Alim Bachri explained that the campus had also entered into an agreement with PT Inhutani to manage an area of 1,700 hectares to be used as a center for developing agricultural business management.

"For the time being, ULM will be given an area of 1,700 hectares to be used as an integrated center for developing agricultural business management. If that can be realized, ULM will become a national exporter, because at this time there is a decline in coffee production, and it must be utilized," said Ahmad.

Meanwhile, regarding investment planning at IKN, Bahlil explained, the first cluster of investment he leads prioritizes domestic investors or entrepreneurs, then the second cluster is filled by foreign investors.

Don't take the center of the city by foreigners. Be sure and believe that triggering a new civilization in urban management and investation. There we use electric cars, which come from hydropower. Indonesia we build in areas that are not forests. And South Kalimantan is included in an investment of approximately IDR 7 trillion. We will build an industrialized ecosystem area of coal and we encourage the downstream sector of agriculture and plantations and marine. South Kalimantan will be the first buffer for IKN, "said Bahlil.

Lambung Mangkurat University of South Kalimantan held a public lecture by presenting the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia. The public lecture was attended by hundreds of students from various majors. After giving a kukiah, Bahlil also invited the students to ask questions regarding campus issues and investments in Indonesia.

Lambung Mangkurat University is the oldest university in Kalimantan. The ULM Campus currently holds the status of a State University (PTN) of the Public Service Agency (BLU).

Meanwhile, BLU itself is an agency within the Government that was formed to provide services to the community in the form of providing goods and/or services that are sold without prioritizing profit and in carrying out activities based on the principles of efficiency and productivity.

Apart from being an educational institution, ULM currently has 11 faculties which are also centers for the development of science, technology, arts, and culture with superior entrepreneurship character based on wetland environments.