Prabowo Subianto Promises to Continue Jokowi's Downstream Ambition

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto claimed that he's striving to realize President Joko Widodo's ambition of downstream in every sector. 

"[Jokowi] stated, multiple times, that without downstream, our people would not be prosperous. Our country would not be strong, he said," Prabowo remarked during a consolidation of the Prabowo-Gibran winning team in Bogor, West Java on Sunday. 

According to Prabowo, other countries are wary that Indonesia is adopting downstream policies since most countries want Indonesia's natural resources for cheap. "They want our goods cheap, to be processed and resell tenfold from the original prices. Mr. Jokowi is stern, he's no longer willing to sell our goods for cheap prices," he said.

Indonesia, Prabowo went on, conducted downstream in various sectors, not only mining but also agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. "We want this country to become prosperous, our children must live honorable lives," he said.

Prabowo admitted he sees eye to eye with Jokowi on downstream strategy. The government, he said, must ensure the availability of Indonesia's natural resources to protect its own interests. 

"We must own Indonesia-made cars, motorcycles, planes, railways, computers, gadgets, and such. We no longer want to be the market of other countries, we have to be able to manufacture goods [on our own]," he explained.

Previously, the General Elections Commission or KPU announced three contesting pairs in the upcoming election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar at number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka at number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md at number 3.

ANTARA

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