Jakarta – The Indonesian Industrial Estates Association (HKI) has welcomed President Prabowo Subianto’s directive emphasizing the crucial role of higher education in supporting strategic investment and the national downstreaming agenda. This directive is seen as reinforcing the direction of industrial development policy, which increasingly integrates human resource development, research, and investment to drive sustainable economic growth.
HKI Chairman Akhmad Ma’ruf Maulana believes the President’s emphasis on university support for the 18 strategic downstream projects managed by Danantara demonstrates the government’s commitment to building a strong national industrial foundation. He believes that the involvement of the education sector is key to ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce and innovation capable of supporting future industrial needs.
“HKI views the President’s directive as a strong signal that future industrial development must rely on human resource readiness, applied research, and innovation. This is highly relevant to ensuring that strategic investments truly add value to the national economy,” said Akhmad Ma’ruf Maulana in Jakarta.
HKI assesses that Danantara’s role as a strategic investment management body plays a crucial role in accelerating the financing and implementation of downstream projects. In this context, industrial estates are viewed as execution hubs, ensuring effective project implementation through the availability of ready-to-build land, adequate utilities, guaranteed services, and an integrated industrial ecosystem.
Ma’ruf explained that the relationship between Danantara and the industrial estate is complementary. Danantara strengthens the financing and strategic project portfolio, while the industrial estate ensures the readiness of the location and business ecosystem so that investments can be realized quickly and have a tangible economic impact on the community.
“The success of downstreaming projects will create a mutually reinforcing cycle of growth. As investment grows, the economy will grow, and jobs will be created. At the same time, the national industrial ecosystem will become stronger and more competitive,” he said.
To accelerate investment realization, HKI has expressed its readiness to strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Investment/BKPM. This includes supporting industrial area readiness, facilitating licensing, and overseeing various obstacles or debottlenecking frequently encountered by investors in the field.
Meanwhile, HKI also reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the needs of industry and higher education. This commitment was previously demonstrated through the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Investment/BKPM at the 2025 Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention.
“HKI is ready to actively participate in following up on the President’s directive. Industrial estates can become real laboratories for applied research, talent development, and the absorption of university graduates who meet the needs of future industries,” said Ma’ruf.
HKI hopes that the synergy between the government, Danantara, universities, and industrial estate players can be consistent and measurable. Thus, the downstreaming and strategic investment agenda will not only drive short-term economic growth but also strengthen the national industrial structure and create sustainable jobs.