Industry Ministry builds aromatherapy development center in Bali

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Industry has built an essential oil development center in Denpasar, Bali, called the Flavor and Fragrance Center (PFF).

"This project plays an important role as a center for innovation, production, and business incubation of essential oil-based products," the ministry's Director General of Agro-Industry, Putu Juli Ardika, noted in a statement from his office on Saturday.

His side considers essential oils to have a strategic role in various industries, such as their use in flavor, fragrance, and wellness products.

With Indonesia's vast potential as one of the largest producers of essential oils in the world, the ministry aims to encourage the downstreaming of this commodity to increase its added value and competitiveness in the international market.

Ardika expressed optimism that this PFF Bali will directly benefit farmers, small and medium enterprises, start-up entrepreneurs, and product developers.

In addition, PFF Bali plays a role in cross-sector collaboration, both locally and internationally.

Bali was chosen as a strategic location for PFF due to its large tourism potential, especially in the spa and wellness sector.

According to data from the Indonesian Spa Association (ASPI), more than four thousand spa businesses in Bali are highly dependent on essential oil-based aromatherapy products.

PFF Bali is located at the Denpasar Industrial Training Center (BDI), which is a work unit under the ministry's Industrial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMI).

In the same statement, Head of BPSDMI Masrokhan stated that with the demands in development and Indonesia's advantage in the flavor and fragrance sector, PFF Bali is expected to play a role as a pioneer in creating innovations to meet market needs and contribute to sustainable and environmentally friendly economic development.

"We hope this place can accommodate experts, professionals, and industry partners to jointly develop new solutions to bring benefits to society and industry at large," he remarked.