President Prabowo Accelerates Downstreaming Through Battery Industry

President Prabowo Subianto breaks ground on the integrated EV battery industry ecosystem by the ANTAM-IBC-CBL consortium at Artha Industrial Hills (AIH), Karawang regency, West Java Province on Sunday (6/29). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto, Sunday (6/29), inaugurated the construction of the integrated EV battery industry ecosystem by the ANTAM-IBC-CBL consortium at Artha Industrial Hills (AIH), Karawang Regency, West Java Province. The inauguration shows the President’s commitment to promoting industrial development from upstream to downstream, with six sub-projects developed in East Halmahera and Karawang regencies.

The project is part of the National Strategic Project with an investment value of US$5.9 billion. The project, which covers an area of ​​3,023 hectares, is expected to absorb 8,000 direct workers and 35,000 indirect workers, as well as increase local economic growth.

In his remarks, the President expressed his confidence that this groundbreaking is a history with strategic value. He believes that the key to a nation’s development depends on the ability to process natural resources into useful materials.

“The key to a nation’s development lies in the nation’s ability to transform natural resources into useful materials with high added value, driving prosperity and improving public welfare,” said the President.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, reaffirmed President Prabowo’s directive that downstreaming must be carried out fairly. For this reason, Bahlil encouraged all parties to ensure that downstreaming projects are not only for investors and the Central Government, but also engage local governments and communities.

“Jakarta’s entrepreneurs should not be in the regions, but local entrepreneurs should take part. What is it for? Because local people should be masters in their own region,” said Bahlil.

Also present at the inauguration were China’s Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong, Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, Karawang Regent Aep Saepuloh, Managing Director of PT Antam Achmad Ardianto, President Director of IBC Toto Nugroho, and President Director of PT CBL Wu Zhihui. (BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat) (JAS/MUR)