Prabowo Urges Domestic Processing of Indonesian Commodities to Boost Economic Value

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has stressed the importance of processing commodities domestically so that Indonesians can benefit fully from the economic value they generate.

He cited Bacan Island in North Maluku, where coconut harvests are abundant, although the fruit is generally processed only into coconut milk and oil.

“We do not want to sell only coconuts. We want to process their derivative products in Indonesia so that Indonesians can enjoy the added value,” Prabowo said, as quoted on Friday (16 October 2026).

The same point was made by Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, who emphasised the need to increase the added value of local commodities so that local communities can benefit fully.

“We want more products to be processed in Indonesia, more added value to remain in the regions, and more people to find work,” he said.

As part of this effort, the UGM Patriot Expedition Team (TEP 1) has trained residents of Bacan Island, North Maluku, to turn coconuts into desiccated coconut, which can be used as a topping for bread and cakes. The product could therefore be marketed more widely.

The training, attended by around 20 women from Jojame village, aims to increase the added value of coconuts while opening up new business opportunities for the community.

The activity introduced residents to alternative ways of processing coconuts, so that local plantation produce can serve not only household needs but also generate greater economic value.

Andarifka, a member of TEP 1 UGM in Bacan, said the programme was designed around the community’s potential and needs. Alongside practical training in making desiccated coconut, the team also provided guidance on packaging coconut oil to help preserve product quality.

“We want to offer a simple programme that meets the community’s needs and can be sustained. We hope the women will be able to develop their own products and access wider economic opportunities,” Andarifka said.

Mama Surti, a Jojame village resident who took part in the training, welcomed the initiative.

She hoped the knowledge gained could be developed collectively to raise residents’ incomes by making use of the village’s coconut resources.