Sunday, 11 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government is offering Japan a range of investment opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation between the two sides. Human resource development, the marine and fisheries sector, and tourism are among the promising areas expected to attract investment while supporting regional economic growth.
North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution highlighted the potential of marine resources around the Nias Islands, particularly lobster, which could be marketed more widely in both domestic and international markets. The provincial government hopes that Japanese investment, technological support and improved market access will help increase value creation in the fisheries sector and open up new economic opportunities for coastal communities.Bobby outlined these cooperation opportunities during a meeting with Furugori Toru, Japan's Consul-General for North Sumatra, at the governor's office on Friday, 9 October 2026. The discussions also covered improving workforce qualifications, developing agricultural technologies, environmental protection and the utilisation of energy resources.
Several North Sumatra Provincial Government officials also attended the meeting. They included Nurbaiti Harahap, Head of the Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office; Deddy JP Harahap, Head of the Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources Office; and Erwin Hotmansah Harahap, Head of the Communications and Informatics Office.The provincial government will continue working to improve workforce skills so that workers can meet the standards and requirements of the Japanese labour market. These efforts are expected to create additional employment opportunities for local people, strengthen bilateral relations and improve the overall quality of the regional workforce.
"We hope cooperation in human resource development can be expanded further in line with Japan's needs. North Sumatra is continuously developing its potential and improving the skills of its workforce. This should also be a priority for Japan," Bobby said.Cooperation in human resource development could also deliver long-term benefits for the regional economy. Workers who gain professional experience in Japan may bring back knowledge, technical expertise and a professional working culture when they return home. These experiences could help improve productivity in Indonesia.
For this reason, the North Sumatra Provincial Government views its relationship with Japan as more than an opportunity to place Indonesian workers overseas. The partnership could also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience and support the further development of professional skills, enabling workers to adapt more effectively to changing industrial requirements and global competition.
Alongside human resource development, Bobby identified the marine and fisheries sector as another area that could be attractive to Japanese investors. The Nias Islands possess significant marine resources that could be developed further to meet domestic demand and the requirements of international markets.
Lobster is among the products attracting particular attention because of its demand in various markets. The North Sumatra Provincial Government hopes that developing this sector will increase fisheries productivity while generating greater economic benefits for coastal communities.Bobby also invited Japanese representatives to visit the Nias Islands to assess their fisheries potential directly. Such a visit would be important in helping both sides identify specific investment opportunities, gain a better understanding of local production conditions and discuss appropriate development measures in line with market demand.
"If possible, we could discuss this directly on the ground and see what potential exists there. One of our priority programmes in North Sumatra concerns marine resources and fisheries. We want to ensure that this sector develops significantly," Bobby said.Developing the fisheries sector should not focus solely on increasing catches or production volumes. Processing marine products, improving product quality, strengthening supply chains and gaining access to new markets could also enhance the competitiveness of regional products.
As part of international cooperation, Japan could become an important partner in introducing modern technologies, improving quality standards and opening up markets for high-value fisheries products. However, realising these opportunities will require further discussions between the government, potential investors and the businesses involved.Bobby hopes North Sumatra's marine and fisheries sector will develop into a significant economic sector that delivers direct benefits to local communities. Further development is also expected to create new business opportunities, generate employment and strengthen the economies of the island regions.
Meanwhile, Furugori Toru welcomed the North Sumatra Provincial Government's development efforts. He identified human resource development, environmental protection, the utilisation of energy resources and agricultural technology as areas in which cooperation between Japan and the province could be strengthened.
Furugori said Indonesians who work in Japan could make a valuable contribution after returning home by applying the experience they had gained. The knowledge and skills acquired during their employment could improve productivity and strengthen the capabilities of Indonesian workers across various industries.Japan also has technologies for processing industrial waste that could be used to support more sustainable environmental management. Introducing these technologies could become part of the cooperation, particularly in efforts to make industrial processes more efficient and take greater account of their environmental impact.
Furugori also saw opportunities to apply Japanese agricultural technologies to increase productivity. Knowledge-sharing and the use of technologies adapted to regional conditions could support agricultural development in North Sumatra."In human resource development, Indonesians who work in Japan can bring back their professional experience and apply it in Indonesia. There are also technologies for processing industrial waste, as well as agricultural technologies that can help increase production," Furugori said.
These potential areas of cooperation demonstrate that economic relations between Japan and North Sumatra could expand beyond trade and the overseas employment of Indonesian workers. Partnerships in technology, the environment, energy and agriculture could also help strengthen regional capacity to address development challenges.However, implementing individual initiatives will require a thorough assessment of needs, technical consultations and close coordination between the parties involved. The North Sumatra Provincial Government hopes that the discussions held so far will provide a foundation for more concrete partnerships that benefit both sides.
He added that some of North Sumatra's investment potential would also be discussed during meetings at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta. This step is intended to maintain communication and facilitate further discussions on potential investments.
"I will pass these matters on to my successor so that the cooperation established so far can be strengthened further. I have also come to appreciate North Sumatra's advantages, particularly its excellent cuisine. I would like to ask for permission to return to Japan. My successor will continue the discussions and follow up on the matters we have addressed here," Furugori said as he bid farewell to Bobby Nasution.Bobby welcomed the exchanges held so far and expressed hope that the change in leadership at the Japanese Consulate-General would not disrupt further discussions on investment opportunities. The North Sumatra Provincial Government needs sustained partnerships to develop key economic sectors and ensure that local communities gain greater benefits from international cooperation.
At the end of the meeting, Bobby presented Furugori with a commemorative gift as a gesture of appreciation and farewell ahead of the end of his tenure in North Sumatra.The meeting formed part of the North Sumatra Provincial Government's efforts to strengthen relations with Japan and explore investment opportunities across several strategically important sectors. The provincial government hopes that subsequent discussions will support human resource development, increase the value of marine products, strengthen agriculture, stimulate economic growth and improve public welfare. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
