Prabowo Urges His Aides to Run Productive Projects: Grand Offices, No Products

Jakarta, VIVA – President Prabowo Subianto has ordered his ministers in the Red-White Cabinet to pursue productive projects that add value to ensure the welfare of the Indonesian people. Prabowo said the government is now building a number of fish commodity production zones not only to ensure the supply of the people’s needs but also for exports that earn foreign exchange for the country. “I think in the coming months we will accelerate the process of building productive ventures,” he said while witnessing the large-scale shrimp harvest at the Kebumen-based integrated shrimp farming complex in Central Java, watched online from Jakarta on Saturday. The President explained that productive development means implementing programmes or projects that generate added value. The Kebumen-based integrated shrimp farming complex not only has the potential to yield 40 tonnes of shrimp per hectare, but has also absorbed 650 workers from the local area. “I am giving instructions to the cabinet what we can support, what we must support, what we should implement, are productive projects,” he said. For example, Prabowo explained that the government is currently building an integrated pond complex in Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara, and revitalising fish ponds in West Java. The President said productive projects are those that create jobs for the people, generate added value and add to the nation’s wealth and people’s incomes. Therefore, the government is currently delaying projects focused on erecting luxurious offices. Prabowo emphasised that many grand office buildings are not directly related to productivity. “Grand offices, but no products. It would be better if the offices were not so grand but the products were good, the outputs plentiful, and the people’s earnings high. Our people need jobs,” he said. (Ant)