Prabowo Calls for Development of Domestic Shipbuilding Industry

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his administration to develop the domestic shipbuilding industry. The directive was issued during a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday (27/7/2026).

Minister of Investment and Downstreaming and CEO of Danantara Indonesia, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, stated that a key aspect of the discussion was the development of Indonesia’s shipping fleet. “Currently, the President observes that 95 per cent of cargo shipments use foreign-flagged vessels,” he said. “We are looking at how these can be Indonesian-flagged in the future, and he has requested a plan for this development.”

Rosan noted that the fleet development plan will be carried out at shipyards across Indonesia, involving both state-owned enterprises and private national companies. “We aim to enhance and advance this so that shipbuilding can be conducted domestically, in accordance with international standards,” he added.

In a separate briefing, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said he had been asked by the President to prepare technological mastery for shipbuilding, given the country’s substantial demand for vessels. “The hope is that our shipbuilding industry will grow in the future. Therefore, we in higher education have been asked to make preparations,” Brian stated after the meeting.