TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited the headquarter of PT Freeport Indonesia in Mimika Regency, Papua. He met with the CEO of Freeport McMoRan, Richard Adkerson.

In front of Richard, the President talked again about Indonesia’s economic growth which reached 5.44 percent in the second quarter of 2022, and the inflation rate of 4.9 percent in July 2022 albeit it exceeded the target of 3 percent.

“I’d talk to Mr. Richard about America’s economic growth and inflation. I believe we (Indonesia) are still better [than the U.S.],” he said, Wednesday, August 31, 2022.

Freeport McMoRan is the U.S.-based gold producer which still holds 48.8 percent of Freeport Indonesia's shares after the divestment in 2018. The U.S. recorded its inflation rate in July 2022 at 8.5 percent, almost its highest level in decades.

The head of state further mentioned Freeport Indonesia's revenue last year which was worth US$7.5 billion. “This is a very large number.”

He also thought that there would be only foreigners working in Freeport who attended the meeting. “It turns out that many of us (Indonesians) also present, and I also see many Papuans.”

Jokowi then expressed his joy because Freeport contributed 68 percent of the Gross Regional Domestic Revenue or GRDP in Mimika Regency, and 34 percent to Papua's Regional Income. Therefore, Jokowi asked Freeport Indonesia's President Director Tony Wenas to manage the company carefully.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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