Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that building a nation is a long journey full of struggles.
"The history of a nation is a long history. Nation building is a very long journey. It can be called a long march ," Prabowo said in his remarks at the groundbreaking event of the Integrated Electric Vehicle Battery Industry Ecosystem project in Karawang, West Java.
The President assessed that every country has its own historical journey in building its nation. He gave the example of China which had a long journey in building their nation, which was full of twists, sacrifices, sweat, blood, and tears.
Indonesia, he said, has a long journey full of struggles, starting from the struggle to gain independence to the struggle to fill independence.
The President said the goal of a nation's independence is to ensure that its people live in good conditions, free from poverty, hunger, and full of justice.
"And this can be realized if the nation is clever in using the gifts given by the Almighty. We understand, we are extremely grateful for the good fortune of our nation but we are also obliged to introspect, we must be clever in managing it," said the Head of State.
On that occasion, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of accelerating government work, especially in implementing the downstream program. The inauguration of the laying of the first stone for the electric vehicle battery industry ecosystem project in Karawang is part of the acceleration of the downstreaming.
According to him, the project is a big step and an extraordinary breakthrough in the development of renewable and environmentally friendly energy which is a global ideal.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait, Governor of West Java Dedi Mulyadi, and Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong.