Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on Indonesian industrialists to take innovative initiatives in the food and energy sectors to answer the challenge of increasing population growth in the country and the world.

Speaking at the presentation of government awards to a number of high performers in the industrial field at the State Palace on Thursday, the President said innovative industry, supported by government policy, would be a strategic step to answer the ever increasing demand for food and energy.

"I really want to encourage the presence of an innovative industry in the food and energy sectors," the head of state said, adding that innovations to increase agricultural production and cultivation of such crops as rice, sugar cane and corn were much needed.

Besides, the president said, technological innovations were also needed to deal with pest attacks, increase fertilizers` effectiveness, climate change adaptation, food management, and food diversification.

On the occasion the president appreciated a food related innovation in the trial planting of wheat in Indonesia by the University of Andalas in West Sumatra in cooperation with Slovakia.

"If wheat can be grown in Indonesia, it will change many things in our food sector," the president said.

As for innovation in the energy field, the head of state expressed hope that various electronic gadgets and environmentally friendly and energy efficient motor vehicles could be created in the country.

The president also called for innovations to discover renewable energy sources and clean energy that could support green industry through research conducted by universities in Indonesia.

But the head of state also realized that innovations in the energy field needed a revolution in terms of perspective as well as existing technology.

Therefore he said the government was ready to motivate and facilitate the emergence of innovations in the energy field.
(Uu.O001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012