East Luwu, October 10, 2026 – PT
Vale Indonesia Tbk (“Vale Indonesia” or the “Company”), reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local
economic development through sustainable community empowerment initiatives.
This commitment aligns with the celebration of the 79th National Cooperatives
Day (Harkopnas) at the South Sulawesi provincial level, marked by the
organization of the Cooperatives and MSMEs Expo Week held at Iniaku, Sorowako,
East Luwu Regency, (10/6–10/2026).
The event was attended by Ferry
Juliantono, Minister of Cooperatives of the Republic of Indonesia, alongside
regional government officials, cooperative movement representatives, and MSME
actors from 23 regencies and local governments across South Sulawesi.
During the event, Vale Indonesia
received two awards in recognition of its contribution as a strategic partner
of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government and the East Luwu Regency
Government, supporting the successful implementation of the 2026 South Sulawesi
Provincial Cooperatives and MSMEs Expo Week.
Expressing his appreciation, East
Luwu Regent Irwan Bachri Syam acknowledged Vale Indonesia’s support, which
contributed significantly to the success of the event.
Bernardus Irmanto, President
Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vale Indonesia, emphasized the
Company's commitment to fostering sustainable community development.
“We remain committed to
supporting the sustainable growth of communities surrounding our operations.
For us, industrial success is measured not only by production and investment,
but also by the tangible benefits delivered to society. Through our operational
activities, downstream development projects, and MSME empowerment programs, we
aim to create broader economic opportunities that enable communities to grow
alongside industrial development. Vale Indonesia has consistently played an
active role in community empowerment, supporting economic development as well
as education, capacity building, healthcare, and overall well-being,” said
Bernardus.
He further explained that the development of the nickel industry and Vale Indonesia’s investments are expected to generate significant multiplier effects for the regional economy, including increased demand for goods, services, and supporting businesses.
“To help local communities
capture these opportunities, the Company implements MSME empowerment programs
focused on capacity building and market access. As of September 30, 2026, Vale
Indonesia had supported 127 MSMEs across four districts in East Luwu Regency:
Nuha, Towuti, Wasuponda, and Malili. Of these, 74 assisted MSMEs have gained
market access through the Telaloa Souvenir Center, enabling local products to
reach a broader consumer base,” Bernardus added.
The 79th National Cooperatives Day celebration, themed “Empowered Cooperatives, a Prosperous Indonesia,” underscored the importance of collaboration among government institutions, cooperatives, businesses, and communities. The government plays a critical role in creating supportive policies and ecosystems, cooperatives drive member-based economic activities, while the private sector contributes through investments, operational activities, partnerships, and community empowerment programs.
Vale Employee Cooperative: A
Pillar of Sorowako’s Local Economy
The spirit of cooperation is also
deeply rooted among Vale Indonesia employees through the Vale Employee
Cooperative (Kopkar Vale). Established in 1979, the cooperative was initially
formed to address the need for essential goods among employees of PT INCO, the
predecessor of Vale Indonesia, in Sorowako.
Operating as an independent
cooperative enterprise, Kopkar Vale has evolved into a modern business entity
with more than 1,300 members and a diversified portfolio of services, including
retail operations and savings and loan services.
Muhammad Parawansa Lamude,
Chairman of Kopkar Vale, highlighted the importance of adaptability for
cooperative institutions.
“Cooperatives are built upon
shared needs. Amid the evolving economic landscape of Sorowako, we continue to
innovate and build partnerships to ensure that the cooperative remains relevant
and delivers sustainable welfare benefits to our members,” he said.
