Riau Governor and Regents Meet Investment Minister to Accelerate Regional Investment and Downstream Processing
Riau Province is recognised as a region with significant investment potential and abundant natural resources, presenting considerable opportunities for investors.
In an effort to open up these investment opportunities, Riau Governor Abdul Wahid, together with regents and mayors from across the province, held a direct meeting with the Minister of Investment and Downstream Processing/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, at the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Processing/BKPM in Jakarta on Monday (5/5/2025).
The visit aimed to foster closer relations, build more intensive communication between the central and regional governments, and discuss a number of important agenda items related to accelerating development, investment, and downstream processing of regional potential.
In a dialogue described as warm yet productive, the Riau Governor conveyed various strategic issues and concrete proposals to the Investment Minister. One of the key issues highlighted was the effort to resolve road infrastructure problems frequently damaged by mining transport activities, particularly coal trucks. The Governor proposed the construction of a logistics railway as a long-term solution that would not only facilitate distribution but also be environmentally friendly and support logistics cost efficiency.
During the meeting, Bengkalis Regent Kasmarni also conveyed the aspirations and hopes of Bengkalis Regency, one of the strategic areas on the eastern coast of Sumatra.
Regent Kasmarni emphasised the importance of building close synergy between the central government, particularly the Ministry of Investment, and regional governments.
"We from the Bengkalis Regency Government welcome this forum as a means to build direct and strategic communication with the Ministry of Investment. We fully recognise that accelerating regional economic growth will not be optimal without active involvement from investors. Therefore, we desire concrete and sustainable collaboration between regional and central government," said Kasmarni.
"We have extraordinary potential, from the maritime and fisheries sector, renewable energy, agriculture, through to Malay culture-based tourism. However, this potential will be meaningless without concrete steps in investment promotion and infrastructure strengthening. We hope the Ministry of Investment can help facilitate investor entry with more favourable regulations and a comprehensive investment assistance system," she added.
Kasmarni also highlighted the importance of downstream processing in creating added value from local products. According to her, many natural products from Bengkalis have thus far only been sold as raw materials without further processing.
"We are ready to transform into a region that is not only rich in natural resources but also capable of processing and managing that potential through the downstream processing sector. For this, support from the Ministry of Investment is greatly needed, both in terms of promotion, funding, and industrial zone development," Kasmarni explained.
Regent Kasmarni also affirmed that Bengkalis Regency is ready to welcome investment with an open spirit and bureaucratic ease.
In an effort to open up these investment opportunities, Riau Governor Abdul Wahid, together with regents and mayors from across the province, held a direct meeting with the Minister of Investment and Downstream Processing/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, at the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Processing/BKPM in Jakarta on Monday (5/5/2025).
The visit aimed to foster closer relations, build more intensive communication between the central and regional governments, and discuss a number of important agenda items related to accelerating development, investment, and downstream processing of regional potential.
In a dialogue described as warm yet productive, the Riau Governor conveyed various strategic issues and concrete proposals to the Investment Minister. One of the key issues highlighted was the effort to resolve road infrastructure problems frequently damaged by mining transport activities, particularly coal trucks. The Governor proposed the construction of a logistics railway as a long-term solution that would not only facilitate distribution but also be environmentally friendly and support logistics cost efficiency.
During the meeting, Bengkalis Regent Kasmarni also conveyed the aspirations and hopes of Bengkalis Regency, one of the strategic areas on the eastern coast of Sumatra.
Regent Kasmarni emphasised the importance of building close synergy between the central government, particularly the Ministry of Investment, and regional governments.
"We from the Bengkalis Regency Government welcome this forum as a means to build direct and strategic communication with the Ministry of Investment. We fully recognise that accelerating regional economic growth will not be optimal without active involvement from investors. Therefore, we desire concrete and sustainable collaboration between regional and central government," said Kasmarni.
"We have extraordinary potential, from the maritime and fisheries sector, renewable energy, agriculture, through to Malay culture-based tourism. However, this potential will be meaningless without concrete steps in investment promotion and infrastructure strengthening. We hope the Ministry of Investment can help facilitate investor entry with more favourable regulations and a comprehensive investment assistance system," she added.
Kasmarni also highlighted the importance of downstream processing in creating added value from local products. According to her, many natural products from Bengkalis have thus far only been sold as raw materials without further processing.
"We are ready to transform into a region that is not only rich in natural resources but also capable of processing and managing that potential through the downstream processing sector. For this, support from the Ministry of Investment is greatly needed, both in terms of promotion, funding, and industrial zone development," Kasmarni explained.
Regent Kasmarni also affirmed that Bengkalis Regency is ready to welcome investment with an open spirit and bureaucratic ease.