Petrokimia Gresik Hosts Petro Agrifood Expo (PAE) 2023, Fostering Agriculture Education and Community Engagement

Petrokimia Gresik, a leading agro-industrial solutions company and a member of the Pupuk Indonesia, is delighted to announce the return of the Petro Agrifood Expo (PAE) 2023. The event takes place at the Petrokimia Gresik Experimental Farm (Buncob) in Gresik, East Java, from July 21 to 23, 2023.

Dwi Satriyo Annurogo, President Director of Petrokimia Gresik, inaugurated PAE 2023 on Friday, July 21, expressing that the event aligns with the 51st anniversary of Petrokimia Gresik and the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. Notably, this marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that PAE is open to the general public. The three-day event aims to serve as an educational and agrotourism platform for the local community.

"Among the favorite activities for the public is the fruit and vegetable picking held in our experimental fields. Visitors can experience the sensation of harvesting melons and various vegetables directly from the crops, making it an educational and agrotourism opportunity for the community, as such moments are rare in Gresik," said Dwi Satriyo.

In addition to fruit and vegetable picking, he added that visitors can also shop for a variety of agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products available at the bazaar stands. Processed products from Petrokimia Gresik's affiliated partners are also featured.

Dwi Satriyo expressed hope that by opening PAE 2023 to the public, the event will bring significant benefits to practitioners in the agricultural sector, both upstream and downstream. The event serves as a platform to introduce and showcase the research outcomes of Petrokimia Gresik, especially innovative products that support solutions for the agro-industry.

"In this program, we provide an opportunity for the people of Gresik and its surrounding areas to explore various efforts by Petrokimia Gresik in delivering the best services to consumers, particularly as a solution in the agro-industry sector. The fruits and vegetables harvested are the result of applying innovative products from Petrokimia Gresik," he emphasized.

Furthermore, Dwi Satriyo added that Petrokimia Gresik is also showcasing the Smart Precision Farming program during the event, initiated for the future of modern agriculture in Indonesia. Through this program, Petrokimia Gresik has accumulated big data on soil conditions and fertility across Java, Bali, NTT, and NTB.

"We will continue to innovate for the progress and prosperity of our nation," he stated.

In the same context, Mrs. Aminatun Habibah, Deputy Regent (Wabup) of Gresik, highlighted that Petrokimia Gresik has grown into a major company, and its benefits are expected not only to be felt by the local community but throughout Indonesia.

Although Gresik is renowned as an industrial city, Mrs. Aminatun mentioned that in 2021, Gresik was recognized as one of the top five rice-producing regions in Indonesia. This achievement is attributed to the synergy between the Gresik Regency Government and Petrokimia Gresik.

"Together with Petrokimia Gresik, we can maximize the potential of agriculture and overcome existing challenges," stated the Deputy Regent.

PAE 2023 features 62 bazaar stands comprising agricultural product stalls, various agricultural produce, ornamental plants, and high-quality fruits, as well as stalls offering livestock and fisheries products, agricultural tools, and medicines. Participating entities include Pupuk Indonesia Group, Petrokimia Gresik Group, private agribusiness companies, farmers affiliated with Petrokimia Gresik, and the Department of Agriculture. All stands showcase a diverse array of outstanding agricultural and agribusiness products.

"Petrokimia Gresik, through Petro Agrifood Expo, not only aims to educate but also seeks to contribute to boosting transactions in the agricultural sector to accelerate the pace of the domestic economy, especially in Gresik and its surrounding areas," concluded Dwi Satriyo.