Berau Promotes Circular Economy as Investment Driver

The Berau Regency Government in East Kalimantan is leveraging the circular economy as a catalyst for attracting investment, ensuring that sustainable development remains environmentally sound and prioritises both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Bupati Sri Juniarsih Mas stated in Tanjung Redeb on Friday that the region has long implemented environmentally conscious development in managing plantations, forestry, and the blue economy, particularly through sustainable fisheries and marine tourism. “Waste is no longer merely an environmental issue; its management holds potential as an economic resource capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, and improving public welfare,” she said. Environmentally sound development has also been mapped as part of the future industrial chain through an economic transformation that reduces reliance on the mining and oil and gas sectors, in line with Berau’s 2025–2029 development vision of being ‘Advanced, Excellent, Sustainable, Prosperous, and Welfare-Oriented’. The regency continues to strengthen sustainable economic sectors such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries, processing industries, and circular economy-based waste management. “Going forward, we must prepare a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable economic foundation. Waste is a resource with added value, capable of creating jobs and becoming part of the future industrial chain,” she added. The planned development of the Berau Circular Waste Industrial Zone (KISS) is a breakthrough aligned with current development challenges, as it presents an integrated green industry ecosystem from sorting to processing waste into economically valuable products. The processed materials are expected to yield multiple benefits, including new employment, a stronger role for waste banks, increased regional revenue in the long term, and incoming circular economy investments. Berau has long been recognised as a pioneer in nature conservation, ensuring that infrastructure, plantations, and settlements are developed without damaging the ecosystem. This includes protecting customary forests, nature reserves, and water catchment areas. Berau is also a national model for forest restoration and carbon emission reduction, promoting environmentally friendly agriculture, sustainable production forest management, and a ban on clear-cutting. In terms of the blue economy, Berau regulates fishing quotas, prohibits destructive fishing gear, promotes non-polluting fish and seaweed farming, and manages marine tourism in the Derawan, Maratua, and Sangalaki islands with visitor limits, turtle conservation, and coral reef protection.