Indonesia is Threatened with Losing IDR 1,650 Trillion if the Next President Doesn't Continue Downstreaming

JAKARTA - Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia has the potential to lose investment of IDR 1,650 trillion next year if the new president does not continue the policy of downstreaming mineral resources.

"If we ask whether IDR 1,650 trillion can be achieved or not? It's up to the presidential candidate, who can continue this or not? If the presidential candidate has a different brain, how can we realize this figure?" said Bahlil, quoted Tuesday, December 12.

According to him, there are certain parties who use other parties to pressure Indonesia regarding downstreaming to reopen mineral exports which had previously been prohibited.

"There are shrimps behind rocks on purpose. One group of course uses other people's hands to put pressure on Indonesia so that the space is opened. Well, this is a political year because this is a fried item," continued Bahlil.

He questioned the nationalist attitude of parties who did not agree with Indonesia's mineral downstream policy.

"If there are people who don't agree with downstreaming, I want to ask, try to check, to what extent is that person's nationalism? What's behind that?" Bahlil continued.

Furthermore, he added, to welcome a golden Indonesia in 2045, Indonesia still needs investment worth IDR 1,650 trillion to spur economic growth.

He emphasized that whoever is the president who is elected in the next period needs to continue the downstream program which is considered the door to a Golden Indonesia.

"Well, now we are pushing imports and exports, we are pushing investments again, only in the last 5-6 years. Our hope for this cannot stop and this must continue in order to maintain the sovereignty of our nation so that the people will be prosperous, Indonesia will be respected. in the eyes of the world," concluded Bahlil.