Prabowo asks Masela project to prioritize local children and entrepreneurs

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto asked the Abadi Masela LNG project not only to produce gas and profits for investors. The Maluku people, especially local sons and local entrepreneurs, must benefit directly from the project worth 20.9 billion US dollars.

Prabowo asked the companies involved to prioritize local labor and open space for local business actors.

"All of this belongs to the people. Our responsibility is to ensure that the people feel the benefits," said Prabowo while participating in the groundbreaking of the Abadi Masela LNG Project online from Jakarta, Thursday, July 16.

He admitted that not all local entrepreneurs have the necessary capabilities to be involved in large projects. However, this deficiency should not be an excuse to eliminate them.

"If there are local entrepreneurs who may still lack competence, yes, they will be helped. There must be favoritism, there must be affirmative action," he said.

Prabowo asked state-owned enterprises, Danantara, and Pertamina to provide technical assistance to local business actors.

According to him, natural resource projects must promote community welfare, not stop at investment and production figures.

"The economy must be for the people, not the people for the economy," he said.

The Abadi Masela LNG is located in the Tanimbar Islands, Maluku. This project involves INPEX from Japan, Petronas from Malaysia, and Pertamina.

Prabowo said the project had been awaited for almost three decades. Therefore, the benefits must also be felt by the people living around the area of operation.

He asked that the construction be carried out immediately without neglecting the interests of local residents.

"We want everyone to feel the impact of this program," he said.

Prabowo assessed that Masela could be a driving force for the growth of the Indonesian economy in the east. However, the results depend on how much local labor and business are involved during construction until the project is operational.