Jakarta –
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his anger at Indonesia’s nickel export problem. Jokowi believes that there are developed countries that do not want Indonesia to move from developing country status.
Jokowi stressed that Indonesia has the determination to become a developed country. However, developed countries feel that this desire is being inhibited so that this dream cannot be fulfilled.
This statement was tweeted by Jokowi as he commented on the political economy regarding the goal of the lawsuit The European Union and the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Indonesia’s blockade of nickel exports. Indonesia lost the case and had to re-channel its nickel overseas.
“Indonesia has halted exports of raw nickel and strengthened the downstream industry. As a result of this policy, Indonesia has been sued by the European Union at the WTO and lost,” Jokowi said via his Twitter account, Jokowi tweeted on Saturday (3/12/2022).
“Even though Indonesia lost the case, we are still appealing. The downstream is still ongoing,” Jokowi said.
Alluding to the forced export policy
According to Jokowi, this condition is like the weather of the VOC society. Where before there was forced labor and forced cultivation, now there is forced export, notably through a lawsuit filed by the European Union at the WTO, which forced Indonesia to export nickel raw, even though the ‘Indonesia wants the nickel to be processed internally.
Jokowi he said there are developed countries who want to stand their ground. Many developed countries are unwilling to see developing countries become developed countries.
According to Jokowi, Indonesia doesn’t need to be discouraged and scared. As for Indonesia’s defeat against the European Union in a WTO lawsuit, there will be a second round through an appeal filed by Indonesia.
“All countries want to progress. Developed countries want their countries to move forward. Developing countries are trying to become developed countries. There are also developed countries who don’t want to see developing countries become developed countries” Jokowi said.
“Whatever the challenges, Indonesia is still moving towards becoming a developed country,” said Jokowi.
(ygs/morocco)
