(PT Cipta Papua Agri Lestari)
Former transmigration minister’s company had a trial farm in Merauke for several years, but are not continuing with a 14,000 hectare plantation plan. |
Last Updated: 28/07/13
Company Description: Bangun Cipta Sarana, sometimes spelled Bangun Tjipta Sarana, is a group of companies owned by Indonesian businessman and politician Siswono Yudo Husodo. Much of the group’s activity is in property development.
Owned by: Siswono Yudo Husodo set up Bangun Cipta Sarana in 1968. During Suharto’s government he served two terms as a cabinet minister, for housing and then for transmigration. Siswono Yudo Husodo is also on the leadership council of the Indonesian Farmers’ Association (Himpunan Kerukunan Tani Indonesia), which was set up in 1974 by Suharto’s government as an elite alternative to grassroots peasant organisation. He is involved in the Golkar political party and was a recent candidate for vice-president.
Plans in Merauke: Bangun Cipta Sarana applied permission to plant 14,000 hectares in Tanah Miring and Semangga Districts. Most sources say they will plant corn, but soya and rice have also been mentioned as potential crops.
In addition, in July 2010, local press reported that another company owned by Siswono Yudo Husodo, PT Cipta Papua Agri Lestari, was given initial permission to develop rubber plantations of 60,000 ha in districts Elikobel and Ulilin, and another 15,000 hectares in Tanah Miring district.1
(UPDATE) However, as of July 2013, it appears that Bangun Cipta Sarana is not planning to proceed with its corn plantation and it is likely that the permit has been revoked by the Merauke government. Neither has there been any further mention of the rubber plantation.
Stories from the ground: Bangun Cipta Sarana was interested in the Merauke area for several years, and was cultivating 200 hectares of corn in Kurik district. High costs due to a lack of infrastructure development and the falling price of corn after 2008 have meant that these fields were not planted since at least 2010.2 T
Address: Jl Letjen S Parman Kav 54 11410, Jakarta, Telephone No. 021-53650829
1. http://www.meraukepos.com/2010/07/pt-cipta-papua-agri-lestari-tanam-modal.html
2. http://majalah.tempointeraktif.com/id/arsip/2010/02/22/EB/mbm.20100222.EB132831.id.html