“They (Brazilian investors) said East Sumba is a perfect fit. We will try to assist them in whatever way we can, so it can bring real benefits to the local community,” he stated during a visit to East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday.
The minister said that East Sumba is a strategic region for Brazil to develop cattle farming, considering that the area was earlier designated as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for livestock.
However, the SEZ development did not move forward due to a lack of investors.
At the invitation of Brazil, Suryanagara plans to further discuss the potential for economic development in transmigration regions with the South American nation.
His ministry is also working to develop East Sumba through the allocation of funding under the Transmigration Settlement Development Program.
“Out of the Rp76.6 billion (US$4.79 million) allocated for East Nusa Tenggara, Rp28 billion (approximately US$1.75 million) will go to East Sumba. That is a significant amount, and I can assure East Sumba is receiving the largest share in the province this year,” he said.
The funds for East Sumba will be used to provide clean water facilities, improve 3 kilometers of roads, upgrade an elementary school building, and repair toilet facilities.
In addition, the ministry will deploy 185 researchers in 37 teams to map the economic potential of East Nusa Tenggara. Twenty researchers, divided into four teams, will be sent to East Sumba.
The Ministry of Agriculture is also preparing a pilot project to develop cattle farming in East Sumba. The project will utilize 10 thousand hectares of transmigration land.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia , Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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