JCI Solo Targets Philippine Region with Largest Nickel Reserves
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Solo has officially established a Twinning Chapter partnership with JCI Surigao, Philippines, through the signing of a Sister Chapter Agreement at the JCI Asia Pacific Conference in Niigata, Japan, on Saturday, 13 June 2026. The agreement marks the conclusion of a two-year exploratory process.
JCI Solo is targeting Surigao, a region known to have the largest nickel reserves in the Philippines and a key supplier of raw materials for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in Southeast Asia.
JCI Solo President Pulung Priyo Utomo signed the agreement alongside JCI Surigao President Jair Balberan. According to Pulung, the differing characteristics of the two regions actually open up broad collaboration opportunities.
“Solo and Surigao may be on different islands and have different characters. But that is precisely where the strategic value of this cooperation lies,” Pulung said in Solo on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
Pulung explained that Surigao is a centre of the nickel mining industry and holds an important position in the Philippines’ maritime routes. Meanwhile, Solo is known as a centre of Javanese culture supported by a micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) ecosystem, the education sector, and a growing creative industry.
The potential cooperation being targeted extends beyond cultural aspects to touch future industrial sectors. With the presence of the Manufacturing Polytechnic, several universities, and a strong MSME network, Solo sees opportunities for the transfer of more environmentally friendly nickel processing technology and human resource development to support the nickel downstream industry in Surigao.
Additionally, Solo’s MSME players have the opportunity to enter the mining industry supply chain through the production of non-nickel supporting components required by the sector.
The cooperation is also directed at the education sector. Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Surakarta, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) are seen as potential partners for Surigao del Norte State University.
“The fields being targeted include geology, mining engineering, cultural preservation, and sustainable mining or green mining research,” Pulung stated.
In the tourism sector, both regions have distinct advantages. Solo offers cultural tourism through the Surakarta Palace, batik, and traditional cuisine. Conversely, Surigao is known for its natural tourism, diving areas, and the Bonok cultural festival.
The two organisations are also opening opportunities for joint tourism promotion linking Solo’s cultural wealth with Surigao’s natural potential. The concept being promoted is a “From Keraton to Nickel Coast” collaboration.
Economic cooperation is another agenda item discussed. Batik products, leather crafts, and furniture from Solo are considered to have opportunities to enter the Philippine market via Surigao. Conversely, Surigao could become a supplier of certain raw materials needed by the craft industry in Solo.
Pulung said the exploratory process for this cooperation was initiated two years ago by former JCI Solo Presidents William Sandika and Soni Suharyono. During that period, the two organisations mapped and tested various cooperation opportunities to ensure the agreed programmes could run effectively.
According to him, the process was also supported by Serra Argo Rianda, who currently serves as Indonesia’s representative at the global JCI level.
“Fortunately, at the same time, we have Serra Argo Rianda sitting as a representative at JCI Global, so he can bridge and connect the needs of both organisations to work together,” Pulung said.
The signing of the agreement was also witnessed by JCI World President Alejandra Castillo and JCI Indonesia President Siegfried Listijosuputro.
Both parties hope the Solo and Surigao collaboration can become a new model of cooperation combining cultural strength and natural resources. On one side, Solo offers cultural capital and creative human resources. On the other, Surigao brings the strength of strategic mineral resources and broader market access.
“Through this partnership, the two cities hope to accelerate economic transformation while creating new opportunities amid the increasing global demand for nickel as a key material for electric vehicle batteries,” Pulung concluded.