Being the 4th most populous nation in the world, Indonesia is under pressure in expanding its lagging agriculture sector. However, some of the richest businessmen in Indonesia is pumping in billions to invest in the sector and they are bringing in innovation and technology into developing better crops. Globe Asia reports that Tomy Winata, who spearheads the Artha Graha Group, is working together with China’s Guo Hao Seed Industries Co. Ltd. through his holding company, PT Sumber Alam Sutera (SAS) to increase rice production in the archipelago nation. In 2007, the SAS has added up to 12,347 tons of rice to the total national rice production. The company expects this figure to grow to 896,000 tons by 2010. The success of China’s hybrid rice to increase crop harvest is the main motivation behind SAS move to develop the rice sector within Indonesia.
Another Indonesian businessman, Putera Sampoerna has made investments in the Timber, Palm Oil and Sugar Cane Industry within Indonesia after he sold the family’s majority stake in the country’s third largest cigarette maker, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk to Altria Group. The family’s PT Sampoerna Agro Tbk. which was founded 2 years ago, is aggressively expanding its plantation and has set up joint ventures to develop biofuel.
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