Political Speech, AHY Alludes To The Downstreaming Of SBY's Heritage Continued By Jokowi

Chairman of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono at JCC Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (6/2/2024). (ANTARA/Walda Marison)

Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), touched on the domestic downstream program (SDA) when delivering his closing political speech ahead of the 2024 General Election at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Tuesday, February 6. AHY revealed that actually downstreaming had started since the Government of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Currently, the downstream program is President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) mainstay policy. "The downstream program has actually started in 2013, in the era of President SBY's administration, especially in the mining sector," AHY said in an event which was also attended by SBY. The topic of downstreaming emerged when AHY explained that the increase in exports was one of four strategies to increase the country's income and make Indonesia's economic growth reach 6-7 percent. AHY said, to increase export value, the next government must focus on developing domestic industries. "The increase in added value can be done through the processing or downstreaming industry," he said. Through downstream policy, said AHY, the government no longer allows exports of raw materials. The government requires the mining industry to build a smelter near mine sites by not destroying the ecosystem and involving local workers. "This step is now intensified by President Jokowi's government," he said. SBY's eldest son said that the next government must carry out downstreaming in sectors that have a broad impact on the people. Mainly in the agro-martim sector to improve the welfare of farmers, breeders, plantations and fishermen. According to AHY, the economic growth strategy will be easier to realize if the presidential and vice presidential candidate pair number 2, Prabowo-Gibran, succeeds in becoming president-vice president in 2024-2029.

This strategy will be easier to execute if the Democrat Party gets more seats in parliament so that it can oversee the Prabowo-Gibran government in the future. "Therefore, with all humility, we ask for prayers of support for the Democratic Party and Prabowo-Gibran to realize our dreams," said AHY.