Government and Industry Synergy Accelerates Downstream Processing and Creates Superior Human Resources
Jakarta — Downstream processing has again received a strong boost through a strategic collaboration between the Industrial Estates Association (HKI), the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Processing/BKPM, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendikti Saintek).
HKI Chairman Akhmad Ma’ruf Maulana called this step a concrete manifestation of Astacita (Association of Industrial Estates) in promoting national economic independence, sustainability, and accelerating technological innovation.
“HKI plays an active role as a bridge between the industrial sector and educational institutions and the government, to create new competitiveness based on knowledge and innovation,” he said.
This collaboration includes aligning the curriculum with industry needs, research collaboration to accelerate downstream processing, and creating superior human resources through strengthening the industrial estate ecosystem. Ma’ruf is optimistic that the target of 8 percent economic growth in the next five years can be achieved if investment licensing is accelerated.
“HKI is also optimistic that it can achieve economic growth of 8 percent in the next five years, provided that all incoming investment, whether through industrial estates, National Strategic Projects (PSN), or Special Economic Zones (SEZs), can be encouraged and the licensing process expedited by the relevant ministries and local governments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sona Maesana, Special Staff to the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming, emphasized that downstreaming is not limited to heavy industry or a ban on raw material exports.
“Downstreaming is about added value, economic independence, job creation, and the direction of the nation’s future,” he explained.
Sona emphasized that simply building factories is not enough; therefore, the active participation of the nation’s youth in the supply chain is being continuously encouraged.
“The investment we are pursuing is not fast, but one that grows alongside the local ecosystem. The government today has a dual role: attracting investment and ensuring that this investment has a real impact on national development,” he emphasized.
Sona noted that the language of investors and the language of the government often differs.
“And the task of the younger generation in the bureaucracy, like me, is to bridge the two. We need a new mindset in building relationships with investors: not just selling projects, but building long-term trust,” he added.
He emphasized that downstreaming must reach the digital, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and creative sectors.
“That’s what sustainable downstreaming is. We need cross-sector collaboration, the courage to build, and consistency in maintaining direction,” he concluded.
He believes that Indonesia doesn’t lack resources but rather needs the will to manage, the courage to build, and consistency in maintaining direction.
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