Kemenperin-UNIDO Explores Opportunities For Green Industry Development And Nickel Downstreaming In Indonesia

Director General of KPAII of the Ministry of Industry Tri Supondy (left) with the Director General of ILMATE Setia Diarta (left) talking with the UNIDO delegation. Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) strengthen the synergy of potential development of environmental-based industrial cooperation and downstreaming of critical minerals such as nickel.

"We welcome UNIDO's initiative in strengthening the standardization of environmentally based industrial estates. This is in line with the Ministry of Industry's policy of drafting regulations related to environmentally friendly industrial areas," said the Ministry of Industry's Director General of Resilience, Region and International Industrial Access (KPAII) Tri Supondy in an official statement written Wednesday, March 12.

It is known that on Wednesday, March 5, the Ministry of Industry received a UNIDO visit in Jakarta. Tri Supondy emphasized that UNIDO has a strategic role in supporting the acceleration of the transformation of the national industry. Several opportunities for cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

"UNIDO expressed its interest in developing a program to increase labor capacity in the industrial sector, in collaboration with universities in China and Europe. In addition, UNIDO also proposes collaboration in the management and recycling of lithium batteries from the electric vehicle industry," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment and Electronics (ILMATE) of the Ministry of Industry, Setia Diarta, highlighted the importance of strengthening the supply chain of the nickel industry in Indonesia.

"We want to ensure that nickel downstream does not only stop at raw material production, but also includes the development of battery recycling technology. That way, the national electric vehicle industry can be more independent and competitive in the global market," he said.

On the same occasion, UNIDO's Managing Director, Ciyong Zou, appreciated Indonesia's steps in developing a green industry ecosystem and mineral downstreaming.

"Indonesia has great potential in the manufacturing industry and mineral resources. UNIDO is ready to support the strengthening of sustainable industrial infrastructure, including through technology transfer and technical assistance," he said.

In addition to discussing cooperation opportunities, the Ministry of Industry and UNIDO also evaluated the implementation of the Indonesia-UNIDO Country Program (IUCP) 2021-2025. The program has covered various strategic initiatives, such as the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Program (GEIPP) which is now entering a further stage involving five industrial estates in Indonesia.

In the future, the Ministry of Industry and UNIDO are committed to continuing to expand the scope of cooperation, including in the digitalization sector of the circular industry and economy.