Held in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, the ceremony was also attended by Riau Deputy Governor Edy Natar Nasution, Pelalawan Regent Zukri Misran, RGE managing director Anderson Tanoto, APRIL COO Eduward Ginting and APR director Basri Kamba.

During the event, Lutfi expressed his appreciation for APR’s presence as a sustainable and competitive company with the potential to be a global player in the industry.

“I would like to congratulate APR for being able to market its products domestically and internationally. This is what we have envisioned, and the Trade Ministry will maintain the optimal trade situation so that we can penetrate the global market, as well as keep the continuity of Indonesian products in the domestic market,” he said.

Lutfi also acknowledged the current state of the global market, noting that a number of European countries had introduced laws requiring exporting countries to obtain a certificate that verifies their products were sourced from sustainable sources.

“I am here at APR because I believe that Indonesia is capable and responsible for both Indonesian products, as well as the forests that will serve as the source of life for generations to come.”

APR produces high added-value products such as viscose rayon fiber. Also known as viscose staple fiber (VSF), the biodegradable man-made fiber is made from wood pulp and resembles cotton in characteristics. VSF is used as the main material in yarn production, which is then processed into clothing and household products.

As of October, APR has produced 111.01 kilotons of viscose rayon fiber products for the export market and 77.51 kilotons for the domestic market. The trade minister also saw the sending off of PaperOne paper products produced by Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), which has been sold in more than 75 countries with a total export of more than 755,000 tons.

Edy said the distribution of viscose rayon products signified the rise of the province’s economy, noting that Riau had recorded Rp 39.54 trillion (US$2.75 billion) in combined domestic investments and foreign direct investments (FDI), reaching 81 percent of the Investment Coordinating Board’s 2021 target for Riau of Rp 48.6 trillion.

“With this factory, Riau is not only a center for the pulp and paper industry, but also rayon as a textile material. [...] We hope that the factory can increase Riau’s gross domestic product by 1.49 percent from non-oil and gas industries, as well as support small and medium industries in sectors related to the factory’s operations, as they can bring a chain effect for Riau’s sustainable economy,” he said.

. (Courtesy of Asia Pacific Rayon/.)

“The distribution of viscose rayon exports to the global and domestic markets is a new milestone in APR’s efforts to strengthen the national textile industry and reduce our dependence on raw textile material imports,” he said.

Eduward also noted that since its inauguration by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in February 2020, APR had become an integrated viscose rayon manufacturing facility with dissolving pulp sourced from 100 percent renewable fibers from APRIL’s forest plantations.

“APR has entered the global textile market with our breathable, light, soft and certified 100 percent natural fiber viscose rayon. Viscose rayon is better than other textile materials as it is biodegradable and able to act as compost. This makes us very optimistic about Indonesia’s prospects of being the center of the global modest fashion scene.”

Currently, APR produces nearly 300,000 tons of viscose rayon fiber annually, which are exported to 22 countries. The company is preparing the second phase of construction to double its production capacity to 600,000 tons annually by 2023.

APR is committed to supporting the government’s vision of increasing export-oriented national production. Viscose rayon’s prospects in the global market are seeing a rapid increase, in line with the rising trend of sustainable fashion.

This article is joint collaboration with The Jakarta Post and APR.