Jokowi Encourages Bachelors Of Economy To Design Downstream Seaweed And Coffee

President Jokowi/PHOTO via Instagram @jokowi

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invited the participants of the Indonesian Economics Bachelors Association Congress to design a labor-intensive downstream strategy, especially for the potential for seaweed and coffee in Indonesia.

The invitation was conveyed by President Jokowi during a speech at the opening of the XXII Indonesian Economic Bachelors Association (ISEI) Congress and the 2024 National Seminar in Surakarta, Central Java, Thursday, September 19.

"Please, this can really design the plans and strategies. What I want is labor-intensive downstreaming," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

President Jokowi emphasized the importance of good management to develop derivative products from seaweed, such as organic fertilizer, cosmetics, and aircraft fuel.

This potential, said Jokowi, has never been touched by good management in Indonesia.

"With a coastal length of 81 thousand kilometers, Indonesia has great potential that has not been utilized," Jokowi added.

"We know that Indonesia has the longest coast number two in the world, 81 thousand kilometers. This is a huge potential, but it must be designed, it must be planned, a correct strategy must be made, so that later the results can be found," he said.

The President noted that national coffee production is only about 2.5 tons per hectare, far behind Vietnam, which reaches 8 to 9 tons per hectare.

"This coffee, I checked, how many hectares do we have coffee? 1.2 million hectares. I checked in the field, how much is our production per hectare? Only approximately 2 tons per hectare. Two less, 2.3-2.5 per hectare," he said.

President Jokowi expressed concern over Indonesia's position in the coffee farming sector at a time of high market demand.

According to the President, the research and development of coffee products in the country is weak, thus becoming a major factor in Indonesia's inability to compete.

"Masa kita kalah dengan Vietnam? Padahal kita yang lebih dahulu," katanya.

The President emphasized the need for serious attention to strengthening research and development so that Indonesia can increase production and quality of its superior commodities.

Jokowi also called for increased research and development in the cocoa industry, which also has great potential.

"Our Kakao has 1.4 million hectares. The industry is there, but the cocoa raw materials are lacking, so we import it, it's a big mistake again," he said.

With the right strategy, said the President, the agricultural and fishery sectors are expected to provide significant added value to the national economy.

"There are still a lot of others, pepper, nilam, whose derivatives will provide a very large added value," he said.