Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Mayor Banjarbaru Nadjmi Adhani (top right white shirt) along with officials release export of cassia alata leaves to Japan by PT Sarikaya Sega Utama. (Antaranews Kalsel/Yose Rizal)
Mayor of Banjarbaru Nadjmi Adhani feels proud and happy because of Banjarbaru become an exporter of gelinggang leaves (cassia alata or senna alata) to Japan to play a role in increasing the value of the country's exports.
"We are proud and happy because the export of this leaf has been able to increase foreign exchange," he said after the symbolic release of gelinggang leaf exports from PT Sarikaya Sega Utama on Saturday.
He said, the pride was even greater because South Kalimantan, especially Banjarbaru City, was the only region in Indonesia that exported gelinggang leaves to Sakura's country.
Moreover, he said, the number of exports to Japan is increasing. Not to mention the requests of other countries, such as Taiwan, Korea and China, which are ready to accept the export of leaves which are processed into herbal ingredients.
"Export demand is getting higher and ordered by countries other than Japan, so that the potential becomes an opportunity to be fulfilled by the community, especially farmers," he said.
According to him, his party is ready to move to encourage agencies to make use of empty land, especially swamps, to be planted with gelinggang leaves or cassia alata.
PT Sarikaya Sega Utama's Board of Directors Michael Febrian Soemarko said, the leave has a great export opportunity and government assistance is needed to promote it.
"Exports have been carried out since 2003 but the numbers are small and now have reached 150 tons per year. The leaves supply comes from Kapuas, Martapura, Jorong, Amuntai, Tanah Laut, and Batulicin," he said.
The release of exports was attended by Mayor Nadjmi Adhani, DPRD speaker AR Iwansyah and the South Kalimantan Governor represented by the Head of South Kalimantan Horticulture Agency Syamsyir Rahman and a number of related officials.
