Jakarta – The government continues to encourage quality downstreaming programs to create more jobs in various sectors. The Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is working with the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) to prepare skilled and certified workers to meet the needs of modern industry.
As a concrete step, the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, met with the Minister of Manpower, Yassierli. In the meeting, both emphasized the importance of workforce readiness in supporting investment and increasing national competitiveness.
“Increasing investment, especially in the downstream sector, requires skilled and certified workers so that its economic benefits can be felt more widely,” said Rosan.
He added that investment entering Indonesia contributes greatly to job creation. In the next five years, investment is projected to create more than 2.6 million new jobs per year. Last year alone, the realization of investment of IDR 1,700 trillion has absorbed 2.45 million workers, and this figure is expected to increase to 2.8–2.9 million people per year.
The readiness of the workforce is one of the main factors in attracting investment. Investors not only consider market potential but also the availability of workers who are ready to work. Usually, factory construction takes two to three years, so the workforce must be ready from the start.
Minister of Manpower Yassierli said that the Ministry of Manpower has adequate training infrastructure to improve the quality of the workforce in Indonesia.
“We have 303 Job Training Centers (BLK) throughout Indonesia that can be used to prepare the workforce according to industry needs,” said Yassierli.
In addition to training, workforce certification is also a major concern so that Indonesian workers can compete at the national and international levels.
“The National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) is ready to guarantee certified workers so that they have global competitiveness,” he added.
As a follow-up, BKPM and the Ministry of Manpower will draft a technical cooperation agreement to optimize workforce training and data utilization to design policies based on industry needs. This synergy is expected to increase workforce productivity, encourage more inclusive investment, and maintain the sustainability of national economic growth.
Meanwhile, member of Commission XII of the DPR, Christiany Eugenia Tetty Paruntu, emphasized that downstreaming is an important strategy in achieving national energy and food security.
“Downstreaming opens up more jobs with the principles of justice, social impact, and sustainability,” she said.
According to her, Indonesia’s energy and maritime sectors have great potential to be developed in increasing the value of the green economy and blue economy. However, its success requires collaboration from various parties, including support from central and regional government regulations in creating a conducive business ecosystem.
