Through Hilirisasi, the Ministry of Industry Increase Rubber Added Value

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, the Ministry of Industry is committed to increasing the value of natural rubber through downstream due to its large potential as raw material for various industrial sectors, including supporting a number of government project developments.

Through the Industrial Research and Standardization Center (Baristand Industries) of Palembang, one of the technical implementation units (UPT) of the Ministry of Industry, conducted research and development activities to support the production of rubber industry and its derivatives.

"Baristand Industri Palembang is our guidance, at the Agency for Industrial Research and Development (BPPI), to support the downstream business of the natural rubber industry considering its potential market," said Head of BPPI Ministry of Industry, Ngakan Timur Antara in Jakarta, Saturday (10/2/2018).

Seeing South Sumatera Province as the biggest rubber producer in Indonesia with 845,16 hectares of land and production reach 970,67 thousand tons per year, Baristand Industri Palembang cooperates with Plantation Office of Musi Banyuasin Regency.

"The form of synergy step is to provide training on rubber product manufacture for Technical Implementation Unit Area (UPTD) from seven districts in Musi Banyuasin Regency," said Ngakan.

In the training activities, participants are provided with knowledge of tire retreading techniques, compound production for automotive rubber, souvenir rubber, and household items such as rubber carpets. The training that lasts for five days is divided into two waves.

The first wave, on 5-9 February 2018, and the second wave are on 12-16 February 2018. The training was attended by 25 participants, consisting of representatives of Marketing Management Unit Bokar (UPTB) and UPTD Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin.

"We hope, through this training, the participants can know the production techniques of rubber finished goods to increase the value added of natural rubber downstream products," Ngakan continued.

As a follow up of the training cooperation, the Regent of Musi Banyuasin will sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation between Baristand Industri Palembang with Musi Banyuasin Regency in the field of downstream natural rubber products and derivatives in the near future.

In addition to providing natural rubber processing training services, Baristand Industri Palembang also provides technical testing and product certification services to support quality assurance of natural rubber products and their derivatives in accordance with Indonesian National Standard (SNI).