Downstreaming continues to be rolled out by President Jokowi . Because it has a positive impact on the economy.
In fact, President Jokowi said nickel downstream in Central Sulawesi ( Central Sulawesi ) had succeeded in recruiting tens of thousands of workers .
"In Central Sulawesi , before downstreaming , only 1,800 workers were involved in nickel processing . After downstreaming , there are 71,500 workers who can work because of downstream nickel in Central Sulawesi ," President Jokowi said as quoted from Setkab's website.
This was conveyed by President Jokowi inaugurating the Board of Directors of the National Leadership Council (DPN) of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) for the 2023-2028 term on Monday 31 July 2023.
He emphasized that downstream industry is an important step for Indonesia to become a developed country in 2045.
"If we can do that, then downstream is successful for all minerals, plantations, agriculture, fisheries, everything can be downstreamed. If the World Bank, McKinsey, IMF, OECD calculate it from 2040 to 2045, I'm sure this can be somewhat advanced," he said.
In addition, downstream also makes a major contribution to state revenues.
In the past, from 2014 to 2015, according to President Jokowi , the government generated approximately IDR 31 trillion from exports of raw materials.
"After downstreaming , it becomes IDR 510 trillion. Back again, from USD2.1 billion it jumped to USD33.8 billion. So how many times did you jump? This is just a few derivatives, "he continued.
In addition, President Jokowi said downstream also had a positive impact on regional economic growth. This will then affect national economic growth.
"In North Maluku (regional economic growth) previously averaged 5.7 percent, after downstream it was 23 percent. If all provinces have growth like that, ladies and gentlemen, can you imagine the aggregate of all of them will be how much our national economic growth will be," he added.
Furthermore, President Jokowi emphasized that this downstream program does not stop at the mineral industry only.
But also in other sectors. For this reason, the President invited entrepreneurs to participate in supporting the downstream program .
“We have to start, Apindo has to start thinking that way. All products that are still shipped raw must start (shipped semi-finished goods or finished goods). Banks also have to think about financing downstream in the fields I mentioned earlier," he said.
Image source: SANGALU