Maxindo Opens Third Factory in Kendal, Boosting Exports to 40 Countries

The construction and operation of PT Maxindo Karya Anugerah Tbk’s third factory in the Kendal Industrial Area (KIK) is part of the company’s strategy to respond to increasing global market demand while strengthening the downstream processing of national agricultural commodities. The inauguration of the company’s largest production facility marks a new milestone in PT Maxindo’s business expansion to increase production capacity, broaden its export market to 40 countries, and strengthen partnerships with local farmers through the development of superior cassava varieties resulting from collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The Grand Opening was attended by Kendal Regent Dyah Kartika Permanasari, the management of PT Maxindo Karya Anugerah Tbk, BRIN representatives, company partners, and farmer groups. During the event, a symbolic handover of superior cassava seeds from PT Maxindo to the Kendal Regent was conducted, who then passed them on to farmer representatives as a form of shared commitment to increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening the supply chain for the tuber-based industry in Kendal Regency. President Director of PT Maxindo Karya Anugerah Tbk, Sarkoro Handajani, stated that the factory in Kendal is the company’s largest production facility. He expressed hope for collaboration with the Kendal Regency Government and the community so that the investment not only increases the company’s production capacity but also provides broad economic benefits for the region. According to Sarkoro, PT Maxindo’s current raw material requirement reaches approximately 100 tonnes per day. Some of the supply has begun to be fulfilled by farmers in several areas of Kendal Regency, such as Kaliwungu and Boja. To maintain the sustainability of this supply, the company not only purchases farmers’ harvests but also provides cultivation assistance through research cooperation with BRIN and the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB). This collaboration has produced superior seeds with higher productivity and greater resistance to the risk of crop failure. Sarkoro noted that the company has invested billions of rupiah in research with BRIN and IPB to ensure farmers obtain better seeds, with productivity potentially increasing by one and a half to two times compared to before. He emphasised that the company’s growth must go hand in hand with improving farmers’ welfare, stating that their spirit is not merely to buy farmers’ harvests but to help increase their income through better productivity. In addition to strengthening the agricultural sector, PT Maxindo chose Kendal for its strategic location. The factory stands on approximately 35,000 square metres of land, much larger than the two previous factories. Its location is only about two kilometres from the export port and is situated in an area that receives various investment incentives. Currently, PT Maxindo’s products are marketed to around 40 countries across four continents, including the United States, Australia, China, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and several other countries in the Middle East and Europe. Sarkoro explained that markets in America, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East continue to grow, and China has also returned as an export market, making the company optimistic that the production capacity from Kendal can be absorbed. In terms of employment, the company targets approximately 95 per cent of its workers to come from the surrounding community. Currently, about 90 per cent of the recruited workforce are local workers. Sarkoro stated that the company wants to grow not only to gain profit but also to create wider job opportunities and increase state revenue through exports. Meanwhile, Kendal Regent Dyah Kartika Permanasari welcomed the operation of PT Maxindo’s third factory. She stated that investment entering Kendal Regency must have a real impact on the community, expressing hope that the people of Kendal Regency will not merely be spectators of the companies established there but will be directly involved through job opportunities, business partnerships, and raw material supply. She mentioned that the Kendal Regency Government remains committed to creating a conducive investment climate. In 2025, Kendal recorded the highest investment realisation in Central Java with economic growth reaching 7.99 per cent, accompanied by a decrease in unemployment and poverty rates. The local government also encourages companies to utilise local agricultural commodities as production raw materials and to expand cooperation with farmer groups and MSMEs so that the benefits of investment can be felt more widely. On the same occasion, Head of the BRIN Genetic Engineering Research Centre, Ratih Asmana Ningrum, stated that the collaboration between BRIN and PT Maxindo, which has been ongoing since 2021, has successfully produced 11 officially registered superior cassava varieties and 10 candidate sweet potato lines resulting from cellular engineering, which are currently undergoing field trials. She noted that this cooperation is a tangible example of how research results can be applied in the industrial world and provide direct benefits to the community. Over the past five years, they have developed cassava and sweet potatoes through cellular engineering, molecular techniques, and continuous field testing. Ratih assessed that the inauguration of PT Maxindo’s third factory is an important momentum in strengthening the downstream processing of national research results, as innovation must not stop in the laboratory but must be able to create economic added value and increase industrial competitiveness.