President Jokowi Reaffirms Commitment to Stop Raw Materials Export

President Jokowi at the opening of the XII Congress of the Veterans Legion of the Republic of Indonesia (LVRI) and the XI National Conference of the Indonesian Veterans Wives Association (PIVERI) 2022, at Balai Sarbini, Jakarta. (Photo by: PR/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Tuesday (10/11) reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to gradually stop exporting raw materials and to keep steadily downstreaming the industry.

“During the 77 years of independence, we always export, whether nickel, copper, or palm oil, but not in the form of semi-finished or finished goods so that other countries have its added value and employment opportunities,” President Jokowi stated at the Opening of the XII Congress of the Veterans Legion of the Republic of Indonesia (LVRI) and the XI National Conference of the Indonesian Veterans Wives Association (PIVERI) 2022, at Balai Sarbini, Jakarta.

The President expressed belief that industrial downstreaming will increase the added value of a commodity and create the widest possible employment opportunities in the country.

“This is what we will consistently continue to do. This year we will stop nickel export, next year we will stop lead export, the year after next we will stop copper export,” the President said, pointing out the example of the export value of nickel rose from Rp15 trillion to Rp360 trillion as it was exported in semi-finished and finished goods.

In addition to nickel, the Government is also set to halt copper exports once the copper smelter plant in Gresik, East Java, is ready to operate, he added.

According to the President, the Government also took over foreign companies’ share ownership in the management of various Indonesian mining industries, from PT Freeport Indonesia to the country’s most productive oil block of Rokan Block. He also asserted that the Government already holds the majority of Freeport Indonesia’s shares.

With these ongoing efforts, President Jokowi expressed optimism that Indonesia’s target to become the world’s top five economy by 2045 will be realized.

“Whoever the President of this country, we must maintain the consistency not to go back to raw exports anymore,” he conclusively remarked. (TGH/UN) (GWH/HD/MUR)