Indef The Value Of AGK's Decision To Apply For A National Car To Enter PSN The Right Decision

JAKARTA - Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) senior economist, Tauhid Ahmad, assessed that the decision of the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita who proposed that the National Car project be designated as a National Strategic Project (PSN) was the right decision.

According to Tauhid, the National Strategic Program is a national priority so that this project gets serious attention from the government. On the other hand, this project will also receive special fund allocations sourced from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

"Yes, I think that's right. Because if PSN has national priorities. Second, there is an allocation of the state budget," he said when contacted, Saturday, October 25.

On the other hand, continued Tauhid, by entering the PSN, the national car project will also receive special attention and determine the location of the industry, the institution responsible for other technical matters.

"For example, where the industrial location is, which institution will handle it and so on. That's where PSN concentrates on it," he continued.

Not only that, this project will also receive fiscal incentives from the government such as imported raw materials, vehicle tax-free and so on.

"You can say the APBN to build buildings and so on, factories and so on. So it must be PSN because this is a national automotive," added Tauhid.

However, this senior economist also reminded that the project made by President Prabowo requires State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) specifically to manage national vehicles. This resembles Pindad, a subsidiary of Len Industri engaged in the production of Vehicles and defense equipment and producing Maung.

The reason for the appointment or formation of this special SOE aims to ensure that this project gets state capital participation (PMN). He considered that entering PSN alone was not enough.

"If it's not that difficult, yes. Because if it's a BUMN, now the model means that the state's capital participation must be greater. Maybe if the initial stage of PSN is to build basic infrastructure like that. The land, factories and so on. But so that governance is more manageable and good, there must be SOEs that take care of that," said Tauhid.

Previously, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita admitted that he had written to the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN) or the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) regarding the proposal for the National Car project to be designated as a National Strategic Project (PSN).

According to him, the letter was signed the previous week and addressed to the Minister of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy.

"Last week I signed a letter addressed to the Minister of Bappenas. This is my suggestion, Bappenas can set a national car project that becomes the presidential policy line to be used as PSN," Agus told the media crew, Thursday, October 23.

Agus also ensured that the domestic industry was also ready to produce national cars. In fact, he claimed to have communicated directly with industry players.

Not only that, Agus also emphasized that his party had pocketed the national car brand. However, he did not state further details to the public.

According to him, the determination of the National Car as PSN can accelerate the preparation process, implementation to commissioning or trial period.

"With the determination of PSN status, all things related to preparation, implementation, until later commissioning can be faster," said Agus.