Soeharto dedicates eight projects in South Sulawesi
Soeharto dedicates eight projects in South Sulawesi
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto inaugurated the new expanshen
unit of a cement plant in South Sulawesi, along with seven other
projects in the province, with a call for intensified
industrialization and agricultural development in the country.
"The process of industrialization we have conducted must be
further developed, expanded and deepened...The industry is the
main vehicle for technological development for us to catch up
with the developed countries," Soeharto said at the ceremony in
Pangket regency, about 62 kilometers north of the south Sulawesi
capital of Ujungpandang.
"Large-scale industrial development doesn't mean we can
neglect the agricultural sector... Past experiences teach us that
a country will fail if it relies only on industrial development
while neglecting the development of the agricultural sector," he
added
Present at yesterday's ceremony were, among others,
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Minister of Industry and
Trade Tunky Ariwibowo, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar,
State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung, South Sulawesi
Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna and Chief of the Wirabuana Military
Command Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar.
The expansion of the cement plant, owned by state-owned PT
Semen Tonasa, has increased the firm's production capacity by 2.3
million tons to 3.48 million tons per annum.
"The expanded production capacity is adequate to meet the
demands for cement in eastern provinces," said the President.
Tungky said at the ceremony that the factory is now preparing
to build its fifth production unit with a capacity of 2.3 million
tons per year, which will bring the country's total cement
production capacity in 1998/99 to 46.8 million tons a year,
exceeding the domestic demand of 33 million tons.
The president of Semen Tonasa, E. H. Nizar, said that the
company's fourth production unit was built at a cost of Rp 964.4
billion, of which Rp 267.3 billion was financed with export
credit, Rp 160 billion with domestic loans, Rp 200 billion with
government equity and Rp 337 billion with company equity.
Project
The seven other projects inaugurated by President Soeharto
include a Rp 20 billion cacao processing plant owned by PT Effem
Indonesia in Ujungpandang. It has an annual production capacity
of 5,000 tons of cacao butter and 6,000 tons of cacao powder.
The other projects include a Rp 15 billion voltage regulator
factory owned by PT Kalla Elektrik System, a Rp 32 billion marble
quarrying plant operated by PT Daya Cayo Asritama, a Rp 30
billion marble factory belonging to PT Quarindah Eikamaju Marmer
and a World Bank-sponsored infrastructure project worth Rp 52.9
billion.
The other two projects are 5,327 houses built in four towns at
a cost of Rp 48 billion and a 20-hectare housing complex in
Ujungpandang worth Rp 22 billion. (jsk)