( Dr. Anggoro Budi Nugroho )
Bahlil Lahadalia is the longest-serving Minister of Investment, or Head of Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), since the 1998 reform era. However, it is unfortunate that his tenure has done little to significantly improve the effectiveness of investment in driving economic growth and job creation.
Indonesia’s economic growth has struggled to reach six percent, despite investment consistently contributing more than 30 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, employment levels have remained relatively stagnant. This is despite periods of peak capital investment, notably in 2015 and again in 2023.
While investment is not the only factor influencing economic leverage, the limited tangible benefits felt by the public during this period suggest a lack of strategic thinking regarding how investment should translate into broader economic gains and public welfare.
More recently, his public remarks have also drawn attention, often for their light or humorous tone—such as his advice to turn off the stove to save energy. But really, how many people don’t already know to switch off the stove right after cooking—something most of us learned as early as elementary school?