Dare To Continue Downstreaming, Jokowi Is Likened By Angkot And Luhut Drivers As His Kernet

President Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Former Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi likens President Joko Widodo as an angkot driver.

This is because of his bold attitude in continuing downstreaming and stopping exports of raw mineral materials.

In fact, he said, many nickel importing countries and other raw materials oppose the head of state's decision.

With Jokowi as a driver, he also likened the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Panjaitan as a assistant.

"If I analogy him like a Medan driver. He doesn't go up, we walk. And, the one who walks this happens to be brave too, the investor. Where is Mr. Luhut? This is the kernet. It's also good, and very brave. This is the encounter I said earlier, Indonesia is an heirloom," said Lutfi at the 'blakakan about the National Car D Polemic LFP VS Nickel', Monday, January 29.

Lutfi said, Indonesia is facing inconsistent investors who initially supported downstreaming.

However, when downstreaming was carried out, the assessment turned into subjective and considered downstreaming not a good decision.

He said, related to the electric vehicle battery industry, China as a country that controls the nickel industry has then started investing in two battery technologies such as Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) and Nickel-Mangan-Kobalt (NMC)-based batteries.

This, he said, was due to China seeing opportunities like China's growing population, as opposed to developed countries that tend to reduce the population over time.

With this opportunity, Lutfi continued, China's risk appetite is different from developed countries.

"This is a Medan driver and Medan assistant who have never met a country that has never met both of them," concluded Lutfi.