Bogor, West Java (ANTARA) \u2014 Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji has\nurged national dairy processor Cimory to develop cheese with distinctive\nIndonesian flavours, as well as other derivative products, to expand the\nmarket and increase the added value of domestic dairy products.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are visiting the Cimory factory today. We initially knew Cimory\nas a yoghurt producer, but it has since expanded through product\ndiversification. Today, we challenged Cimory to produce more dairy\nproducts, such as ice cream and Indonesian-style cheese,\u201d the minister\nsaid during a working visit to PT Cisarua Mountain Dairy Tbk (Cimory) in\nBogor, West Java, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sarmuji said cheese developed to suit Indonesian consumers\u2019\npreferences had considerable market potential. The innovation is\nexpected to broaden the range of processed dairy products and strengthen\nthe competitiveness of the national industry.<\/p>\n
He challenged Cimory to bring the new products to market within the\nnext year. The move is expected to diversify the dairy-processing\nindustry and help it capture domestic market opportunities.<\/p>\n
Alongside product diversification, Sarmuji highlighted the importance\nof increasing utilisation across the national industry, which still has\nroom to grow. He said making better use of existing production capacity\ncould increase manufacturing\u2019s contribution to the national economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can maximise industrial utilisation to 80\u201385 per cent using\nexisting capacity, the industrial sector\u2019s contribution to gross\ndomestic product (GDP) can certainly increase significantly,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, higher utilisation requires sufficient supplies of raw\nmaterials at competitive prices. The Ministry of Industry is therefore\ncommitted to maintaining reliable supplies, including by easing imports\nfor production needs that cannot yet be met domestically.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf raw materials are disrupted, unavailable in sufficient quantities\nor not competitively priced, industrial utilisation will be low. We will\nensure that industry\u2019s raw-material needs are adequately met. We will\nprovide import relief or flexibility when imports are for raw\nmaterials,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sarmuji also stressed the need to strengthen upstream industry\nthrough cooperation between ministries, with the aim of increasing\ndomestic fresh-milk production and reducing reliance on imports.<\/p>\n
He said development of dairy processing must be matched by growth in\nthe dairy-cow population, higher productivity among farmers and better\nquality domestic fresh milk.<\/p>\n
According to Ministry of Industry data, the domestic dairy-processing\nindustry will require about 4.95 million tonnes of fresh-milk equivalent\nin 2025. Around 80 per cent of that demand is still met through\nimports.<\/p>\n
To address the issue, the ministry is strengthening partnerships\nbetween dairy processors, cooperatives and local farmers.<\/p>\n
The support includes refrigeration technology, digitalisation of milk\ncollection centres, and programmes to restructure industrial machinery\nand equipment.<\/p>\n
By 2026, digitalisation had been introduced at 96 milk collection\ncentres operated by nine cooperatives in West and East Java, involving\nmore than 12,000 dairy farmers.<\/p>\n
Sarmuji also praised Cimory for buying fresh milk from local farmers.\nIn 2025, the company partnered with 18,458 dairy farmers and purchased\naround 26.42 million litres of domestic fresh milk.<\/p>\n
PT Cisarua Mountain Dairy Tbk Manufacturing Director Pamungkas Bayu\nTriprasetyo welcomed the minister\u2019s challenge to broaden the range of\nprocessed dairy products.<\/p>\n
He said innovation was an important part of Cimory\u2019s business\ndevelopment strategy. The company will assess opportunities to produce a\nrange of dairy products with potential in the Indonesian market.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will not focus solely on liquid milk, but will also consider\nother dairy products that could be developed in Indonesia,\u201d Pamungkas\nsaid.<\/p>\n
On the use of local raw materials, Pamungkas said that around 20\u201330\nper cent of Cimory\u2019s milk raw-material requirements are currently met\nwith fresh milk supplied by farmers in West and East Java.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/industry-minister-urges-dairy-processor-to-develop-indonesian-style-cheese-1792655524", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }