Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen its investment-boosting strategy to expand job opportunities and strengthen the national economic structure.
This step has received support from regional industry players and the business world, who believe that cross-sector synergy is key to creating sustainable jobs.
The Indonesian Industrial Estate Association (HKI) commended President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to university rectors and leaders, emphasizing the strategic role of higher education in supporting investment and the national downstreaming agenda. The directive emphasized the importance of collaboration between universities, industry, and the government.
HKI Chairman Akhmad Ma’ruf Maulana said the President’s emphasis on university support for 18 strategic downstream projects managed by Danantara indicates an increasingly integrated policy direction.
“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,” he said.
HKI assesses that Danantara plays a crucial role in accelerating financing for downstream projects, while industrial estates serve as hubs for investment implementation through land preparation, utilities, and business ecosystems.
According to Ma’ruf, the relationship between the two complements each other and has a direct impact on job creation.
“When investment grows, the economy grows. Jobs are created,” he said.
On the other hand, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is encouraging the private sector to actively increase employment opportunities, especially for the lower middle class.
Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aviliani, emphasized the role of the business world in supporting the government.
“What is actually our collective homework in the private sector, in this case the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), is how we can help the government in absorbing the workforce,” he said.
Aviliani highlighted the lower middle class, which contributes around 17 percent of GDP and numbers 75 million people.
“So that the 75 million or 17 percent can move up to 70 percent,” he said.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto, through the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, also instructed the acceleration of labor-intensive programs.
“The President really wants us all to work much faster, especially in several areas that are job-creating and labor-intensive,” Prasetyo said.
The President also emphasized the need to accelerate the development of the fisheries sector, including the development of fishing villages and the massive construction of fishing vessels, in order to reduce unemployment and strengthen the people’s economy.
