First From The Basic Material Manufacturing Industry Sector, GIS Encourages The Indarung Factory Archives I To Become Memory Of The World

Photo: Doc. Cement Indonesia Group (SIG)

JAKARTA - The long journey of the group PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG) as the pioneer of the building materials industry in Southeast Asia received recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the establishment of the Indarung Factory archive I PT Semen Padang from 1910-1972 as the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP).

The determination was made at the 10th session of the MOWCAP General Meeting which was held in Ulaanabaatar, Mongolia, on Wednesday (8/5/2024). The oldest factory archive belonging to the GIS subsidiary, namely PT Semen Padang, is now one of 10 historical chronics in Indonesia recognized as Asia Pacific collective heritage, and is the only and first to come from the basic material manufacturing industry sector.

This achievement brings the Indarung I Factory archive closer to being designated as a Memory of the World (MOW) by the United Nations Agency (UN).

SIG's Corporate Secretary, Vita Mahreyni said, the Indarung I Factory is the first cement factory in Southeast Asia, which is a milestone and symbol of the nation's independence in development in the country. GIS appreciates PT Semen Padang's commitment and hard work in fighting for the Indarung I Factory Archives to be recognized as a documentary legacy of industrial development and world development, which led to the determination of MOWCAP by UNESCO.

"In addition to being an important part of Indonesia's history, efforts to document and recognize the great services of Indarung I in development in the country, not only capture the memory of the Indonesian nation and even the world, but also ensure the availability and protection of the scientific heritage for future generations. As the holding company that houses PT Semen Padang, SIG fully supports further efforts to fight for the Indarung Factory Archives I to become a Memory of The World (MOW) which will be proposed in 2025," said Vita Mahreyni.

At the beginning of the independence era, the Indarung I Factory was part of the preparation for the implementation of the Universal National Development Pattern which was formulated by President Soekarno with the National Design Council (Depernas) now the National Development Planning Agency/Bappenas) to bring Indonesia into an industrial country. As part of preparations for the implementation of the Universal National Development Pattern, the Indarung I Factory was nationalized as an asset of the Republic of Indonesia in 1958.

Prior to being designated as MOWCAP by UNESCO, the Indarung I Factory archive was previously designated as the National Collective Memory (MKB) by the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) on May 23, 2023. The Indarung I archive, which has been designated as MOWCAP, is a series of National Cultural Conservation of the Indarung Factory I PT Semen Padang. If MOWCAP records the Indarung Factory archive as a collective heritage of Asia Pacific, then the National Cultural Reserve noted the physical construction of the factory as a national cultural heritage asset that must be protected.

Furthermore, Vita Mahreyni said, GIS strongly supports the historical preservation initiative of the Indarung I Factory. This is part of the pillar of GIS sustainability, namely creating value with employees and the community.

"The establishment of the Indarung I Factory archive is a national and world historical heritage through the MKB to MOWCAP by UNESCO, capable of being an initiative to balance industry and historical value, to become a means of education and help promote the history of the Indarung I Factory to the wider community," added Vita Mahreyni.

President Director of PT Semen Padang, Indrieffouny Indra is very proud and grateful for the establishment of the Indarung I Factory archive as A MOWCAP by UNESCO. This determination is a tangible manifestation that the Company cares about the history of the Indarung I Factory and its preservation as an asset of the nation. "Alhamdulillah, this is a matter of pride for the extended family of Semen Padang. Of course, the determination of the Indarung I Factory as MOWCAP is also part of the history of the company's long journey, which is now 114 years old," said Indrieffouny Indra.

Since its establishment in 1910 and stopped operating in 1999, the Indarung I Factory located in Indarung Village, Lubuk Kilangan District, Padang City, West Sumatra has produced millions of tons of cement to meet the needs of cement at home to abroad. It is noted that a number of masterpieces of national pride such as the National Monument (Monas), the DPR/MPR Building and Semanggi Bridge in Jakarta, to the Ampera Bridge in Palembang, which have stood firmly until now as evidence of the quality of Semen Padang products.