Investment potential in North Sumatra (North Sumatra), especially the agricultural sector is still very large. This sector also has a workforce of 34.27% of the total working population, so the opportunity to invest in the agricultural sector is very promising. The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of North Sumatra itself has prepared various supports to improve the investment climate by providing incentives and facilities to investors who will invest. The North Sumatra Provincial Government is also updating the policy of providing incentives and facilities in order to make it easier for potential investors, both foreign and domestic investors. Acting Regional Secretary (Sekda) of North Sumatra Province, Agus Tripriyono, said that one form of improving the investment climate in North Sumatra was carried out through the North Sumatra Invest (NSI) Day event. Through this event, efforts to attract investment to North Sumatra are carried out with project owners and potential investors. "So NSI Day is a promotional event for strategic investment projects in North Sumatra. This is an effort to encourage sustainable economic recovery, as well as support the implementation of Indonesia's G20 Presidency this year," he said, at the NSI Day event held by Bank Indonesia (BI) North Sumatra Representative, at the Hotel Adi Mulia, Medan, Wednesday (28/9/2022). Agus said the investment sector had a big role in shaping North Sumatra's economic growth in the second quarter of 2022, which reached 4.7% year on year (yoy). From this economic growth, the investment sector contributed 30.22% and was recorded as the third contributor in terms of expenditure after household consumption and exports.
At NSI Day which brought investors and project owners, Agus Tripriyono, explained that the potential of the agricultural sector in North Sumatra is still very large. North Sumatra has a vast expanse of agricultural areas with fertile soil quality, making it suitable for developing various agricultural commodities. The agricultural sector, including fisheries and animal husbandry, also contributes greatly to the total Gross Regional Domestic Product (GDP) of North Sumatra. In the second quarter of 2022, its contribution reached 23%. In addition to the agricultural sector, according to Agus, North Sumatra is also suitable for developing investment in the green energy sector. Because there is geothermal potential and large water currents in South Tapanuli and North Tapanuli regencies. This potential, he said, needs to be encouraged, especially since the interest of foreign investors in electricity, water and gas projects is also quite high. BI Senior Deputy Governor Destry Damayanti, who was present online, said North Sumatra was an important contributor to Indonesia. Because North Sumatra contributes 5% to national economic growth and it proves that North Sumatra has a big role for the Indonesian economy. "If you refer to the data, from this growth, around 30.22 percent was contributed by the investment sector. This shows that North Sumatra's potential is very large and there are still potentials that can be explored to be offered to investors," he said. Destry said the large investment potential in North Sumatra is also supported by existing human resources (HR), where more than 56% of the total population is young and productive. "So on this occasion (NSI Day-ed), we invite investors not to waste investment opportunities in North Sumatra," he said.
