Jakarta, July 22 -- Indonesia's Agriculture Ministry and sovereign wealth fund Danantara are developing an integrated coconut downstream industry to increase domestic raw-material absorption, raise commodity value and create jobs.

Agus Rosyid, a product quality supervisor at the ministry's Directorate General of Plantations, said Danantara had surveyed several potential locations for the integrated industry.

"PTPN has begun intensive work in East Java to develop nucleus coconut plantations before expanding to plasma plantations. Danantara has also surveyed locations for integrated downstreaming," Rosyid said Wednesday.

Speaking at a webinar, Rosyid said the program would target areas with abundant coconut supplies but limited processin...