Misbakhun Responds to Economic Outlook 2026: Indonesia Needs Investment with Real Impact
House of Representatives Commission XI Chairman Misbakhun has assessed that Indonesia is entering a critical phase in which it must sustain growth whilst strengthening the foundations of a long-term, value-added economy. He spoke of the importance of investment that not only drives headline growth figures but also delivers real and direct impact for the public.
Misbakhun said his remarks were a direct response to the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026 forum recently held by the government. The forum outlined the direction of national economic policy: accelerating strategic investment, downstream processing, and strengthening the real sector.
“Indonesia needs investment that delivers real impact — creating industries, expanding employment, and increasing national capacity. This must be the focus to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” Misbakhun said in a statement on Friday (20 February 2026).
He noted that the current global context demands that countries move swiftly to build domestic industrial strength, particularly in the energy, critical minerals, food, and technology sectors. In such circumstances, institutional readiness and policy consistency become decisive factors.
Misbakhun observed that Indonesia is beginning to develop a more structured framework for managing long-term investment, including through the establishment of Danantara Indonesia as a national investment platform.
“The presence of Danantara signals that the state is beginning to build a more systematic mechanism for linking industrial needs, financing, and investor interest. This is an important step, because strategic projects require institutions capable of overseeing the process from planning through to execution,” he said.
Additionally, Misbakhun responded directly to Danantara’s presentation at the forum, which showcased a cross-sector investment pipeline spanning mineral downstream processing, new energy, agriculture, and digital infrastructure as part of efforts to drive long-term economic growth. He said the approach of positioning investment as a driver of industrialisation and value creation is relevant to Indonesia’s current economic needs.
“The presentation demonstrated an effort to position investment as an instrument of transformation, not merely project financing. The focus on downstream processing, industrial strengthening, and future sectors is the right approach, provided it is implemented consistently and underpinned by strong governance,” he said.
Nevertheless, Misbakhun cautioned that public expectations of state investment-driving institutions are also high. Professionalism, governance, and concrete results are therefore essential.
“The challenge now is proof. Not just policy design, but projects that are actually running, industries that are growing, and benefits felt by the public. That is where credibility will be built,” he continued.
Misbakhun said the momentum following the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026 must be leveraged to accelerate the implementation of strategic investments already planned — from mineral downstream processing and new energy to modern agriculture and digital infrastructure. In this context, Danantara’s role is considered relevant in ensuring investment does not remain a mere policy agenda but becomes a driver of economic transformation.
“As long as it is directed towards productive sectors and managed with strong governance, the role of institutions like Danantara can serve as a catalyst for accelerating industrialisation and strengthening the national economic structure,” he said.
Misbakhun added that the success of the investment agenda still depends on synergy between the government, business actors, financing institutions, and global partners. Following the forum, he said, the direction of development has become increasingly clear.
“Investment is positioned as an instrument of transformation — not merely an annual realisation target, but as a path to building an economy based on value-added, technology, and productivity,” he said.
This momentum, he argued, must be maintained through consistent execution and governance discipline to truly deliver broad impact for the national economy.