Batu, en.SERU.co.id – The Batu city government is reaffirming its push to develop local ornamental plants, positioning the cool highland city as a national floriculture hub through the Specta Flora Festival (SFF) 2026.
Deputy Mayor Heli Suyanto officially opened the event on Thursday (July 2, 2026) at Batu Love Garden (Baloga). The four-day festival, running until July 5, is designed as more than just a plant exhibition — it’s a strategic platform bringing together government officials, business players, ornamental plant communities, and creative industry stakeholders.
In his opening speech, Heli Suyanto highlighted floriculture as one of Batu’s strongest economic assets. He expressed hope that the festival would serve as a launching pad for local farmers and creators to move beyond the domestic market and compete on the national and international stage.
“Kota Batu has been blessed with extraordinary floriculture potential. We want the work and products of our local sons and daughters to go beyond just being ‘big fish in a small pond’ — we want them to penetrate national markets and compete globally,” he said.
Heli added that he and Mayor Nurochman remain committed to improving governance in the sector, creating better opportunities for florists and farmers to participate in the city’s strategic programs.
Beyond showcasing beautiful plants, the Specta Flora Festival is expected to drive the creative economy by generating new business opportunities in agribusiness and tourism, creating jobs, and improving the welfare of local farmers and small entrepreneurs.
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The lively opening ceremony was attended by Ridha Agusta Heli Suyanto, Chair of Perwosi Batu, as well as Noval Abudzar, Expert Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (UMKM). The ministry’s presence underscores the central government’s attention to Batu’s floriculture development as a promising pillar of the UMKM sector.
Academics, plant enthusiasts, and creative economy activists from across Indonesia also flocked to the event to exchange ideas and expand business networks. (dik/ono)
