The Government of Aceh is shifting its economic development strategy—moving away from a reliance on the sale of raw commodities toward downstream processing and industrialization. This transition is considered essential to ensure that Aceh’s abundant natural resources generate added value, create jobs, and foster prosperity for the local population.
This was conveyed by the Acting Regional Secretary of Aceh, Taufik, during the Aceh Economic Development Forum (AEDF) 2026, hosted by PT Pembangunan Aceh (PEMA) at the Hermes Hotel, Banda Aceh, on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).
The AEDF 2026 is themed “Accelerating Investment and New Industrial Era in Aceh.”
Taufik noted that Aceh possesses significant potential across various sectors—including agriculture, plantations, marine resources, energy, and tourism—along with a range of high-value commodities. However, he emphasized that this potential must be managed professionally and sustainably to truly become a driving force for the regional economy.
“We must ensure that Aceh’s resources do not simply leave the region as raw materials, only for the added value and employment opportunities to be captured elsewhere,” Taufik stated.
He argued that agricultural, plantation, fishery, energy, and other resources should increasingly be processed within Aceh, ensuring that the economic benefits are more directly felt by the local community.
Taufik expressed his hope that the AEDF would go beyond being a mere forum for exchanging ideas; he expects it to produce a concrete roadmap, identify clear investment opportunities, ensure regulatory certainty, streamline licensing processes, prepare infrastructure, and foster collaboration between the government, the business sector, academic institutions, the banking industry, and the public.
Meanwhile, the President Director of PT PEMA, Faisal Ilyas, remarked that while Aceh holds vast resource potential, it has yet to fully translate these assets into added value for the region.
“We possess vast marine territories, yet the added value derived from them is captured by those outside of Aceh. We have agricultural and plantation commodities, but we currently sell them only as raw materials,” said Faisal. According to him, the challenge for Aceh lies in transforming this potential into added value through investment and industrialization.
“Through this forum, we will create a roadmap for our actions over the next 10 to 20 years,” he stated.
Faisal noted that PEMA bears a significant responsibility as a regional economic instrument. To date, PEMA has cumulatively contributed IDR 128 billion in dividends to the Aceh Government.
Looking ahead, PEMA aims to increase its contribution to Aceh’s locally-generated revenue (PAD), especially given the current regional fiscal climate and the reduction in transfers from the central government.
Six Agreements Signed
Beyond the discussion forum, AEDF 2026 also served as a platform for signing several agreements related to investment and industrial development.
The first agreement was established with Tigallapan Investama to conduct a joint study on the potential for developing renewable energy.
Furthermore, a strategic partnership was formed with Kedah Agro Ausin Berhad, covering areas such as agro-industry, trade, agrotourism, logistics, technology, livestock, and human resource development.
Additionally, Citaglobal entered into a joint study regarding the potential for developing sustainable energy and fuels. Another agreement was signed with PT Banda Sentra Nasional (BSNS) for the development of telecommunications infrastructure in Aceh.
Meanwhile, an MoU was signed with PT Indo Surya Galvalume (ISG), accompanied by the soft launch of a lightweight steel (galvalume) factory; an MoU was also signed for the introduction of a tenant producing aerated concrete (hebel) and precast bricks, which also saw its soft launch.
These partnerships are part of an effort to propel Aceh into a new era of industrialization by optimizing regional resources and attracting investments that generate added value for the community.
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