Govt to help Sampoerna invest in Papua

Govt to help Sampoerna invest in Papua

The government will assist the Sampoerna family in setting up
sugar plantations and processing plants in Merauke, Papua, after
the they handed over their empire to cigarette giant Philip
Morris in February.

Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono said his ministry
would meet the Sampoerna family later this month to discuss the
possibility of them becoming engaged in the sugar businesses,
with the government pledging to assist them set up the new
operation.

"Merauke is a very remote area. My ministry and other related
agencies will help Sampoerna in preparing the necessary
infrastructure and workers," said Anton at the State Palace on
Thursday.

The minister said the assistance was not only for Sampoerna,
but also for the sake of development in the country's most
eastern and underdeveloped regency.

The Sampoerna family has been reportedly planning to invest
some of its money in 120 hectares of land in Papua for sugar cane
plantations and processing. -- JP