Prabowo: Foreign Investment Must Comply with Regulations and Downstreaming in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that Indonesia’s openness to foreign investment, including from the United States, must still align with national interests.

According to him, discussions on economic cooperation, such as tariff agreements, do not change the fundamental principle that all incoming investments must comply with applicable domestic regulations, especially in the management of natural resources.

“Regarding critical minerals, I have already said, we are open. But everything at market price. At economic price,” he stated on Saturday (21/3/2026).

He explained that the involvement of foreign investors in the mining sector is not new to Indonesia.

The government has long provided space for cooperation, one of which is through the operations of PT Freeport Indonesia’s mine, which now serves as one of the largest contributors to state revenue.

“If they want to follow the rules, we permit it. Freeport has been operating for decades and is now one of our largest sources of revenue,” Prabowo said.

The government no longer permits the export of raw materials without undergoing processing domestically.

“Raw materials must be processed in the country. If they want to mine and process here, of course we permit it,” he asserted firmly.

Prabowo also assessed that critical minerals are strategic commodities that must provide maximum added value to the national economy.

Thus, the government ensures that the door to investment remains open, but it must follow national regulations and support the downstreaming agenda to increase added value domestically.