Jakarta-listed palm oil company PT Astra Agro Lestari plans to start opening up rubber plantation this year to supply the rubber needs of parent PT Astra International, an automotive giant
“We want to enter the rubber (plantation) business this year. Hopefully, we could get the necessary land this year. We have been looking at a number of alternatives,” Astra Agro President Director Widya Wiryawan told the press on Monday.
But he said that rubber would only be the company’s supporting business, not the main business like palm oil.
He declined to provide further details about the plan. Astra International through unit PT Astra Otoparts plans to produce tire products.
Astra Agro, according to Widya, is also planning to enter the sugarcane plantation sector, and is currently looking for around 20,000 ha of land to realize the plan. (rei)
