Advertorial (2): KUTAI KARTANEGARA -- Sept 19<\/p>\n
Kutai Kartanegara offers more than oil, gas, gold and coal<\/p>\n
The implementation of regional autonomy has made Kutai
\nKartanegara one of the richest regencies in the country.<\/p>\n
Kutai Kartanegara -- commonly called Kutai or Kukar -- is the
\nmain producer of oil in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On Monday, President Megawati inaugurated a US$551 million oil
\nproject handled by foreign oil company, Total, in Kutai. Three
\nother foreign oil companies, Vico, Unocal and Exspan, are also
\noperating in the regency.<\/p>\n
To describe how resource-rich the area is, Regent Syaukani HR
\nsaid, \"One oil company in Kutai produces three times more than
\nthe average production of one company in Brunei Darussalam\".<\/p>\n
Last year, the regency contributed Rp 87 trillion from oil
\nproduction to the central government. As a consequence of the
\nimplementation of regional autonomy, the central government is
\nrequired to hand over 15 percent of that amount to the regency.<\/p>\n
\"But we only received Rp 7 trillion,\" Syaukani frowned. He
\nalso regretted the fact that the central government has not fully
\nhanded over the authority to manage the sectors of forestry,
\nagriculture and investment.<\/p>\n
\"If every region has the full authority to manage investment,
\nfor example, things will be much better. I'm sure that the
\nregions could attract more investors,\" said Syaukani, who is also
\nhead of the Association of Indonesian Regencies and
\nMunicipalities.<\/p>\n
Kutai is doing its best to boost investment in the area. The
\nlocal administration is providing tax exemption facilities and
\nother facilities to attract potential investors.<\/p>\n
\"There are no more illegal fees in the permit application
\nprocess,\" Syaukani said. So far, 75 percent of the investors are
\nfrom foreign countries, most are engaged in the exploration and
\nproduction of natural resources like oil, gas, gold and coal.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that East Kalimantan has 31.6 billion tons of
\ncoal deposits. The annual production is about 52.1 million tons.<\/p>\n
Kutai Kartanegara -- formerly part of Kutai Regency -- is
\nlocated alongside Mahakam River, covering more than 27,263 square
\nkilometers, or about one third of West Java province. Once, it
\nwas at least three times the current size.<\/p>\n
In 1999 the Kutai regency was divided into three regencies:
\nEast Kutai, Kutai Kartanegara and West Kutai. In total, there are
\nnow eight regencies in East Kalimantan, but Kutai Kartanegara has
\nthe richest natural resources.<\/p>\n
But East Kalimantan, especially Kutai, has much more to offer
\nthan oil, gas, gold and coal. Among the many sectors expected to
\nlure investors are fisheries, agriculture, eco-tourism, infra-
\nstructure construction and petrochemicals.<\/p>\n
\"We have so much arable land for pepper, cocoa, palm oil and
\ncoffee,\" Syaukani said.<\/p>\n
The area is also suitable for farming, breeding cattle and
\nowls and fish and shrimp hatcheries.<\/p>\n
Kutai has 404,000 hectares of palm oil plantations -- which
\nhas attracted a number of Malaysian companies -- producing 19,000
\ntons of palm oil a year. It also has 48,500 hectares for rubber,
\n17,500 hectares for coffee, and additional land for other
\ncommodities like cacao, sugarcane, pepper, bananas and
\npineapples.<\/p>\n
The production of pepper amounts to some 12,000 tons a year,
\nwhile rice, 183,000 tons.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Kutai is making great efforts in the
\ndevelopment of the agricultural sector along with the development
\nof human resources and tourism, in anticipation of the decrease
\nof oil and other unrenewable natural resources.<\/p>\n
\"Our farmers can not earn much because they work in a
\ntraditional way. They should learn to manage the agricultural
\nsector professionally, in a modern way that is export-oriented,\"
\nSyaukani said.<\/p>\n
According to Kutaikartanegara.com, the official website of the
\nregency, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1999 was Rp 15.59
\ntrillion, including more than Rp 11 trillion from oil and gas.<\/p>\n
With a population of over 480,000 people, the gross income per
\ncapita was Rp 33.726 million a year. However, many residents are
\nstill poor due to the great disparity in wealth distribution.<\/p>\n
Syaukani underlined that his vision is to see the people enjoy
\nprosperity and justice -- to become independent and skillful and
\nto form a stronger civil society. This should be achieved through
\nthe empowerment of all \"stakeholders\", including the executives,
\nlegislative, the private sectors and the common people.<\/p>\n
A number of programs have been implemented to improve the
\nwelfare of the people in the regency, which has a population of
\n480,000 residents.<\/p>\n
Education is free - students from elementary school to high
\nschool level do not need to pay school fees, and each teacher
\nreceives an incentive of Rp 500,000 a month plus a motorcycle.
\nChild labor is discouraged and the administration expects that by
\n2007, child labor will be abolished.<\/p>\n
Syaukani, a high school principle in the 1970s, had also
\nintroduced the Gerbang Dayaku program or the Movement for the
\nDevelopment and Empowerment of Kutai. Under the program, each
\nvillage received Rp 1 billion in 2001 and Rp 2 billion in 2002.
\nThis year, the amount remains the same.<\/p>\n
The fund is to promote the development of the infra-structure,
\nthe development of the economy and the improvement of human
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Non-government organizations, journalists, local public
\nfigures, local councillors and students are expected to help
\nmonitor the program, which has been marred with irregularities.<\/p>\n
\"We are in the reform era, we are open to criticism. We admit
\nthat the program has not been fully successful. But in some
\nareas, it has worked,\" said the 54 year-old Syaukani who used to
\nbe the local council speaker, before holding the post as the
\nKutai regent three years ago.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that his biggest challenge is how to make sure
\nthat the program is implemented efficiently.<\/p>\n
\"What we hope or dream does not always become a reality,\" he
\nsaid, \"it depends much on the people who make the
\nimplementation.\"<\/p>\n
Syaukani strives to make his dreams come true through good
\nmanagement, working hard and praying.<\/p>\n
Table: Budget of the Kutai Kartanegara Regency<\/p>\n
Year Amount Increase
\n-----------------------------------------------------------------
\n1999\/2000 Rp 287.3 billion 35.75 percent
\n2000 Rp 340 billion 18.5 percent
\n2001 Rp 887.15 billion 160 percent
\n2002 Rp 1.66 trillion 87 percent
\n2003 Rp 2.4 trillion 44.5 percent<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/advertorial-2-kutai-kartanegara-sept-19-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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