Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan: Genomic Transformation Will Be Indonesia’s Backbone for the Future

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:12 | News | Editorial INTI

Jakarta, INTI – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, reaffirmed the Indonesian government’s commitment to advancing genomic technology during the second anniversary of the Biomedical and Genome Science Initiative (BGSi), on Thursday (September 12, 2024). The event, themed Future Directions in Genomics: Setting the Agenda for the Next Decade, was held in Jakarta and attended by key figures in the health and science sectors.

During the Q&A session, Luhut explained that the idea for developing genomics in Indonesia first emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. “At the start of the pandemic, together with Health Minister Budi G. Sadikin, we realized the importance of this technology to detect future disease potentials,” Luhut stated. This gave birth to BGSi, which has become a national program aimed at detecting future diseases and providing precise medical treatment for the Indonesian people.

Collaboration with Beijing Genomics Institute

Luhut also highlighted the strategic cooperation between Indonesia and the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), one of the world’s leading genomic institutions. This collaboration is not only focused on learning about health technology but also on the application of genomics in agriculture and other industries. “This technology development is not only for health but can also be applied to agriculture. For example, we can design crops with specific features like size or taste,” he explained.

He added that the program also encourages human capital development by sending Indonesian students to Beijing to pursue master's and doctoral degrees. “It’s not just students, but senior researchers from China are also assisting us in building a stronger research culture in Indonesia,” he added.

Potential for Agricultural Transformation in Indonesia

One of the aspects emphasized by Luhut is the potential for genomics to transform rural agriculture in Indonesia. By developing superior seeds and better fertilizers, supported by the government’s infrastructure preparation, Luhut believes Indonesian agriculture will experience significant productivity growth. “The key is providing adequate infrastructure such as water, electricity, and roads, which will help reduce production costs,” he stressed.

Luhut further explained that Indonesia is in an excellent position to attract investments in this sector. “We have a lot of smart people in this country, and we also provide good facilities for research. In Bali, for instance, there are already two special economic zones that allow for health and agriculture research,” he noted.

SatuDNA: A Milestone in Genomic Development

During the event, Luhut, along with Health Minister Budi G. Sadikin, launched the SatuDNA program, which is part of the BGSi initiative. The launch was attended by other high-ranking officials, including Director General of Health Services Azhar Jaya and Chief Digital Transformation Officer Setiaji. This program is expected to be a new milestone in genomic research and development in Indonesia.

“We want to show the world that we can grow our economy. Last year, we grew by over 5 percent, and we are confident we can do the same this year,” Luhut concluded with optimism.