Prabowo: We Must No Longer Export Raw Materials

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto stated that in the future, Indonesia must no longer export raw materials. He emphasised that Indonesia’s natural resources (SDA) must be processed into products with high economic value. “I want downstreaming, that’s the only way. We must no longer export raw materials; we have to process those raw materials into derivative industrial products with high value,” said Prabowo during a discussion with journalists and experts in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, as quoted from a replay on Kompas TV’s YouTube channel, Friday (20/3/2026). Prabowo said Indonesia must undergo a transformation. Yet, Indonesia is a rich country that possesses all the natural resources needed. However, Indonesia lacks the technology to process those natural resources into commodities that can be sold again. Prabowo mentioned that his government has mapped out industrial needs according to the commodities possessed by Indonesia. These industries are expected in the future to create jobs and resolve the unemployment problem.