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Prabowo decries ‘deindustrialization’, Jokowi promises more equitable growth
Presidential contenders square off in final debate.
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Presidential candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto greet each other before the presidential debate held in the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta on March 30. (JP/Seto Wardhana.)
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residential hopeful Prabowo Subianto opened the final presidential debate on Saturday with an indictment of the Indonesian economy, which he said was on “the wrong track”, while President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo vowed to make economic growth more equitable in the archipelago.
“We are of the view that our nation has long been in the wrong direction and if this continues it will not bring prosperity to Indonesia,” said Prabowo in his opening statement.
He decried what he said was the massive amount of wealth that has left the country while also condemning what he described as 'deindustrialization' in Indonesia.
“At the moment we are not producing anything, we only receive production materials from other countries. We should correct this,” said Prabowo.
Jokowi, on the other hand, brought up his administration’s infrastructure development as the driver for creating new sources of economic growth and bringing about more equitable development in the country.
“With infrastructure, we want new sources of economic growth outside Java,” said Jokowi.
The incumbent also highlighted the importance of economic nationalism.
He said it was vital for the government to manage key and strategic natural resources, citing his administration’s past actions such as the takeover of the Mahakam gas block and the Rokan oil and gas block and the acquisition of a majority stake in PT Freeport Indonesia.
