Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): President Prabowo Subianto has instructed ministers to prioritize the expansion of special economic zones (SEZs) to draw foreign investment into Indonesia.
This was conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto after a meeting with Prabowo in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“The president wants these economic zones to continue to be developed so more investment can come in, especially investment from countries he recently visited,” Hartarto said.
Prabowo has completed a series of official visits to China, the United States, Peru, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, where he witnessed several economic and investment agreements between Indonesia and those respective countries.
According to Hartarto, Indonesia continues to support the optimization of SEZs to attract investment, increase export value, and open up jobs.
Until the third quarter of 2024, he said, total investment in the SEZs reached Rp68.43 trillion (around US$4.3 billion), with the absorption of 34,199 workers.
Cumulatively, the realization of investment in SEZs has reached Rp242.5 trillion, creating 151,260 jobs involving 394 companies.
Hartarto also discussed the national strategic projects during a meeting with Prabowo and several other ministers.
Prabowo instructed that all strategic projects be completed in the 2024-2025 period.
“Eighteen projects are expected to be completed this year, while 30 more will be finished in 2025,” Hartarto remarked.
