Palembang, South Sumatra (Antaranews Sumsel) – South Sumatra, which successfully held South East Asian (SEA) Games in September 2011 and would be the host for next year Asian Games, has made the world want to know more about the province.
South Sumatra, which is economically strategic, is located near Java Island, where Jakarta is, and is close to Singapore and Malaysia. From the 7th to the 12th century, this province was the central of Srivijaya Empire, with its name reaching as far as Madagascar in Africa.
This province is enriched with abundant natural resources such as oil, natural gas, geothermal resources, and coal, as well as vast farming areas for various commodities such as rubber, palm, and coffee.
The vast natural resources still remain unoptimized, prompting Governor H. Alex Noerdin and staff to look for investors from various countries to invest in that province.
To attract investors, the governor increased the promotions and even put up a show to entertain the potential investors. He would offer investment chances every time he welcomed various guests from abroad to check Asian Games’ preparedness.
The province, which consists of 13 towns and four cities, has plenty of potential natural resources that have not been optimized due to its limitations.
The natural resources include a huge 5.034.082 million stock tank barrel (MSTB) of oil; natural gas at Musi Banyuasin, Lahat, Musi Rawas, and Ogan Komering Ilir, which reaches 7.238 billion cubic feet (BSCF); and 1.911 megawatt electrical (MWe) geothermal energy.
As for coal resources, the province has a huge 22.24 billion tons of stocks, which consists of 40 percent from all over Indonesia.
These coals spread in several regions, such as Muaraenim, Lahat, Musirawas, and Musi Banyuasin, is still managed by national enterprise’s Bukit Asam and several private sectors.
To make use of such big potential, his part is waiting for several investors from various Asian countries and the others to manage the resources, which would enable them to support local development and improve people’s prosperity, the governor remarked.
Awaiting investors
The utilization of resources need proper funding, which prompts the province to look out for investors.
To further boost the province’s potential, South Sumatran Government has developed Tanjung Api Api Port in Banyuasin region, which has now become a specified economy zone to build railways and various factories.
Vice Governor Ishak Mekki stated that Tanjung Api Api was built as the most important logistics distribution region in western Indonesia.
The building of dock at Tanjung Api Api was done deliberately, so that it would serve as the entrance and exit gate for various commodities such as coals, agricultural products, and industry in big amount.
His part would also provide easy access to take care of the related permits to attract investors.
Through the promotion and ease of permits, the province would hopefully be well-known and could attract more investors to this province.
reported by Yudi Abdullah
(Ian/KR-MBR/INE)
