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MAKASSAR – Barru Regent Andi Ina Kartika Sari has called on the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) to strengthen collaboration with local governments to promote investment and unlock the region’s economic potential.

She made the call while attending the 35th APINDO National Working and Coordination Meeting (Rakerkornas) at Claro Makassar on Tuesday (August 4, 2026).

According to Andi Ina, economic growth cannot rely solely on the government. The business community has an important role to play as a strategic partner in opening investment opportunities and creating added value for the regional economy.

“Economic growth cannot be driven by the government alone. We need the role of other organizations and institutions, including APINDO. In my view, APINDO must be part of economic growth because economic activity cannot be separated from the role of entrepreneurs,” Andi Ina said.

She expressed hope that APINDO would go beyond serving as an organization for businesspeople and become increasingly active in building communication and partnerships with local governments to identify investment opportunities across different regions.

“APINDO should be present in the regions, bringing a spirit of cooperation and directly exploring the potential of each area. We hope APINDO will take a more proactive approach and work closely with regional heads to develop the business sector,” she said.

Andi Ina then outlined several leading sectors in Barru Regency that offer investment opportunities, ranging from plantations, horticulture, fisheries and marine resources to tourism.

One of the commodities being developed is coffee. The geographical conditions of Barru’s highland areas are considered suitable for producing high-quality coffee, creating opportunities for investment in both plantations and coffee processing.

In addition to coffee, Barru is also known for its honey pineapple. However, development of the commodity remains largely concentrated in the upstream sector. The local government is therefore encouraging investment in processing industries to strengthen downstream development and create greater added value.

“We hope investors will come in so that downstream processing can move forward. Eventually, there can be processing facilities that turn pineapples into ready-to-market products, allowing the added value to benefit the community,” she explained.

In the marine sector, Barru has approximately 78 kilometers of coastline. This extensive coastal area offers opportunities to develop fisheries and the maritime economy, while creating new sources of economic growth for the region.

“Barru has three dimensions. We have land, sea, and mountains. We have potential in agriculture, plantations, fisheries, and tourism,” Andi Ina said.

Meanwhile, in the tourism sector, the Barru Regency Government is developing a coastal tourism area in Bojo under the concept of JBL, or Jimbaran Barru Lapakaka. The area is projected to become one of South Sulawesi’s leading tourism destinations.

“My dream is to develop the area into JBL, Jimbaran Barru Lapakaka. People would not need to travel all the way to Bali; they could simply come to Barru and enjoy coastal tourism. Of course, everything is still in progress,” she said.

Andi Ina emphasized that collaboration between local governments and the business community is essential to ensure that Barru’s potential does not remain merely as natural resources, but is transformed into productive investment that generates added value and delivers tangible benefits to local communities.

“Synergy between local governments and APINDO must continue to be strengthened so that all the potential within the region can be developed into an economic force capable of improving the welfare of the people,” she concluded.

Sumber: barrukab.go.id