Chatib Basri Raises Job Concerns in Meeting with Prabowo

Economist Chatib Basri questioned President Prabowo Subianto about creating quality jobs during a discussion with several observers in Hambalang on Thursday, 19 March 2026. The former Finance Minister revealed research findings showing that increasing protests in various countries, including Indonesia, are linked to the shrinking middle class. Chatib explained that although Indonesia’s unemployment rate has decreased, the highest unemployment is among the educated group. “This is a new problem not unique to Indonesia, but worldwide, Sir. Because economic growth creates jobs, but informal ones,” said Chatib in Hambalang on Thursday, 19 March 2026, quoted from a video clip uploaded via the Instagram account @chatibbasri. The University of Indonesia economics lecturer revealed that 80 percent of jobs created from 2019 to 2024 were informal jobs with low wages. Chatib Basri then asked Prabowo what he would do to create quality jobs. Prabowo responded that the solution to the problem is industrialisation. “We must no longer export raw materials. We must process those raw materials into derivative industrial products with high value,” said Prabowo. The Head of State mentioned that Indonesia has become a market for cars from other countries. Yet, Indonesia does not lack natural resources to process into cars. He also mentioned coconuts as a miracle crop. According to Prabowo, in other countries, VCO or virgin coconut oil is considered anti-cancer. According to Prabowo, industrialisation can be realised by building factories. “And we have already mapped it out, we already have a plan, an industrial tree for all the important commodities we have,” he said.