PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - Garut Regent Abdusy Syakur Amin received a delegation from IPB University and the Australia-Indonesia Center (AIC) at the Pamengkang Room, Garut City District, March 5, 2026, to plan the development of the Garut leather industry so that it can penetrate the global market and improve the welfare of local business actors.

Abdusy Syakur Amin said collaboration between academics and international institutions opens up new opportunities for strengthening the region's leading industrial sectors.

Syakur explained that AIC is a collaborative institution involving around 10 leading universities, including IPB University, which is now focusing on developing Garut's local industrial potential.

"We discussed industrial sector development in Garut Regency, with a primary focus on the leather industry. I am very confident that this collaboration will be successful and will yield results that will improve the welfare of the people of Garut Regency," said Syakur.

Vice Rector IV for Global Connectivity, Cooperation, and Alumni of IPB University, Iskandar Z. Siregar, explained that the academic team came to discuss a concept note entitled Integrated Industrial Development as a framework for strengthening the Garut leather industry.

"We will conduct a detailed assessment of the current problems facing the leather industry. The team will strive to strengthen the planning concept by involving all relevant stakeholders to ensure optimal implementation," Iskandar explained.

Australia-Indonesia Centre Director Kevin Evans believes that Garut's agribusiness potential and the quality of its leather raw materials offer significant opportunities for development in the international market.

"The idea for this collaboration with IPB emerged because we have an opportunity to strengthen the leather industry. We hope this sector can reach the global market by partnering with AIC as a technology provider, supplier, and market access provider," said Kevin Evans.

As a follow-up, IPB University and AIC are planning a kick-off meeting and workshop with the local government and business actors to develop a strategy for developing a more competitive and sustainable leather industry for the Garut community.

(Garut Communications and Information Service/bhf)