East Kalimantan Offers Investment in Plantation Sector

Balikpapan, East Kalimantan (Antara) - East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak is seeking to woo investors to the province saying opportunities are wide open for investment in various sectors other than in oil and gas sector. "One of the sectors is plantation, which has proved to contribute significantly to improving the people's economy," Awang Faroek said when commissioning a palm oil processing plant built as part of an integrated industry that includes oil palm plantation and beef cattle farming by PT Fairco Agro Mandiri (PT FAM) in the sub-district of Kaubun, Kutai Timur. Awang Faroek said the presence of PT Fairco Agro Mandiri in that area showed that East Kalimantan is safe for investment and that the province is a potential place for investment. "The presence of PT FAM will stimulate the local people to be more active in developing the plantation sector," he said. He expressed the hope that improved investment climate would attract more investors to the region. He pledged to simplify the administrative process and investment procedure and guarantee investment security in East Kalimantan. The plantation sector has a bright prospect with potential to replace the oil and gas sector as the main source of income for the province in the future, he said. (*)