Prabowo Holds Ratas For Accelerating Downstreaming, Jobs And Economic Equity Is The Main Focus

President Prabowo Subianto (Instagram @prabowo)

JAKARTA - The acceleration of downstreaming is the focus of the presidential government's Prabowo Subianto cabinet. He and a number of ministers held a limited meeting in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, on Sunday, March 16.

The meeting discussed national downstreaming in various strategic sectors. The main focus of the meeting is to ensure that downstream projects have a real impact on job creation and equitable economic growth throughout Indonesia.

Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM Rosan Roeslani said that his party together with the relevant ministries had inventoried a number of downstream projects in the mineral, coal, aquaculture, agriculture, and plantation sectors. A thorough analysis is carried out to determine the priorities of projects that are able to provide maximum benefits to the economy and the welfare of the community.

"We prioritize which projects have a positive impact, especially in the field of job creation. That is one of the main parameters we saw earlier," said Rosan after the meeting.

Rosan added that the downstream project was also assessed by its contribution in reducing imports, increasing exports, and strengthening the competitiveness of the national industry. Rosan emphasized President Prabowo's directive so that downstreaming does not stop at an early stage, but is an entry point for a wider industrialization process.

"The President's direction is to create the most multiples. So this can be industrialized, because downstreaming is part of the end of this industrialization," he explained.

Not only oriented macroeconomics, downstream projects are also directed to involve pond farmers, plantation farmers, and the surrounding community, so that their welfare will also increase.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that the President's seriousness in encouraging downstreaming was reflected in the implementation of Sunday's meeting. Bahlil also expressed his appreciation for President Prabowo's commitment and his cabinet.

"This is a form of the President's seriousness in guarding, checking the programs that have been ordered to his ministers," said Bahlil.

Bahlil explained that the meeting also followed up on the President's decision regarding the implementation of 21 priority downstream projects. President Prabowo gave directions for these projects to prioritize labor absorption, combine technology with labor-intensive, and prioritize the import substitution industry.

"Mr. President directs us that the implementation must be truly professional and have high economic value," said Bahlil.

Furthermore, President Prabowo also emphasized the importance of equitable distribution of downstream investment in all parts of Indonesia, not only concentrated on one island. This is important so that there is an economic spread throughout Indonesia.

"This is part of the instrument for economic growth," said Bahlil.