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| East Kutai ships 12 tons of fermented cocoa to Bandung, marking a key step in economic diversification from coal and palm oil to cocoa-based agro-industry. |
The East Kutai Regency Government in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, shipped its first 12 tons of fermented cocoa beans to PT Rasantara Cipta Pangan in Bandung on Wednesday (June 17) in Sangatta, marking a key step in its efforts to diversify the local economy beyond coal and crude palm oil (CPO).
The initial shipment is part of an ongoing partnership, with regular monthly deliveries expected to range between 25 and 30 tons of fermented cocoa beans. The product originates from Karangan District, one of East Kutai’s long-established cocoa-producing areas.
East Kutai Regent Ardiansyah Sulaiman described the achievement as a major breakthrough in reducing the region’s reliance on extractive industries. He said the entry of local cocoa into industrial markets in Java highlights the strong potential of agriculture as a new driver of community-based economic growth.
He added that the progress was made possible by local farmer groups and business actors who improved quality standards through consistent fermentation processes that meet industrial requirements.
“East Kutai has long been known as a coal and crude palm oil (CPO) producing region. Therefore, this success in economic diversification through fermented cocoa is certainly a major leap,” said Ardiansyah Sulaiman in Sangatta on Sunday.
He also emphasized that the local government will continue supporting cocoa development, from cultivation and post-harvest standardization to expanding market access.
Meanwhile, Head of the East Kutai Plantation Office, Arief Nur Wahyuni, expressed optimism about the growing market opportunities for fermented cocoa. He said guaranteed off-take agreements would directly improve rural household incomes.
“With a stable market and modern cocoa processing from upstream to downstream, cocoa plantations have the potential to become a promising source of employment,” he said.
With established market access in Java and a structured monthly shipment plan, fermented cocoa from East Kutai is expected to emerge as a new economic growth engine, strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating the region’s shift toward a more diversified economy.
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