Enviro News Asia, Samarinda — The Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI) East Kalimantan Regional Chapter has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with the press and supporting the development of the media industry in East Kalimantan after receiving the Prerana Award at the 2026 SPS Awards.
The award ceremony was held on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at the Ballroom of the East Kalimantan Youth and Sports Office (Dispora), Kadrie Oening Tower Complex, Samarinda, as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Press Company Association (SPS).
The Prerana Award is a special category of the SPS Awards presented to public figures and inspirational leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to advocating public interests, upholding transparency in information, and maintaining constructive professional relationships with the press community.
For APHI East Kalimantan, the recognition represents both an honour and an appreciation of its efforts to foster communication, partnerships, and constructive engagement with media professionals. It also serves as motivation to improve transparency regarding the forestry sector’s contributions to regional economic development, environmental conservation, and community empowerment.
This year’s SPS anniversary carries the theme “A Press Advancing Together with the Nation Towards the Nusantara Capital City”. The theme holds particular significance for East Kalimantan, where the media plays an important role in providing development information and overseeing the region’s transformation as a key supporting area for the Nusantara Capital City (IKN).
APHI East Kalimantan considers a professional, independent, credible, and ethical press essential to building a healthy information ecosystem. Beyond delivering information to the public, the media serves as a strategic partner in monitoring development, conveying public aspirations, and fostering objective understanding of government policies and development activities.
Rudi Sasgo, Head of the Plantation Forest Division of APHI East Kalimantan, expressed his appreciation for SPS’s 80-year contribution to sustaining the press industry and fostering a healthy and professional journalistic environment.
“We congratulate the Press Company Association on its 80th anniversary. A progressive and independent press is essential for the private sector, particularly in disseminating positive information about sustainable forest management and supporting the development of IKN,” he said.
He added that receiving the Prerana Award would encourage APHI East Kalimantan to continue strengthening its relationships with the press community.
“We view this award not merely as recognition, but also as a mandate and responsibility to maintain open, professional, and harmonious communication with media professionals. We hope this partnership will continue to grow so that information about the forestry sector can be conveyed objectively, fairly, and in ways that benefit society,” he added.
APHI East Kalimantan also highlighted the forestry business sector’s significant contribution to regional development. Forest management involves not only economic activities and investment but also responsibilities for forest conservation, environmental protection, employment generation, and improving the welfare of communities living around forest areas.
Through its support for and partnerships with the press, APHI East Kalimantan hopes that good practices and the private forestry sector’s contributions to sustainable forest management will become more widely recognised.
Regarding IKN development, the association views the establishment of Indonesia’s new capital as an opportunity for East Kalimantan to emerge as an inclusive, competitive, and sustainable centre of economic growth.
Achieving this vision requires collaboration among all stakeholders, including the government, businesses, communities, academics, and media professionals.
The press has a strategic role in overseeing this process by delivering accurate, educational, and responsible information while serving as a communication bridge between the government, business sector, and society.
APHI East Kalimantan hopes that the 80th SPS anniversary and the 2026 Prerana Award will further strengthen partnerships between the forestry business sector and the media industry.
The collaboration, it said, should extend beyond ceremonial activities and develop into practical cooperation that supports regional development, advances the press industry, and contributes to the successful development of the Nusantara Capital City.
“We believe that IKN development requires not only infrastructure and investment support but also access to quality information. A progressive and independent press is an important partner in building public trust and overseeing transparent and sustainable development.
“APHI East Kalimantan remains committed to working closely with the press community to help build a more advanced East Kalimantan and contribute to the successful development of the Nusantara Capital City,” the association said in its statement. (*)
