During a recent parliamentary meeting, Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia’s Minister of Investment, highlighted the specifics of Starlink’s presence in Indonesia. The investment, amounting to approximately SGD 2.52 million (IDR 30 billion), surprisingly supports only three registered employees, sparking discussions on the actual benefits of such foreign investments to the local economy.
In a session with Indonesia’s House Commission VI, Bahlil Lahadalia provided detailed insights into the investment footprint of Elon Musk’s Starlink in Indonesia, discussing its implications and the surrounding regulatory environment.
Starlink has officially invested about SGD 2.52 million (IDR 30 billion) in Indonesia, a figure confirmed through the country’s Online Single Submission (OSS) system.
Photo: VOI (2024)
Despite the investment, Starlink has only three registered employees in Indonesia, raising questions about its contribution to job creation in the region.
The discussion clarified that the Ministry of Investment does not directly handle the technical discussions related to Starlink, which are managed by other technical ministries.
Members of Commission VI expressed concerns regarding the minimal impact of such a significant international investor and questioned which ministries facilitated the smooth entry of Starlink’s investment.
Read More: Elon Musk’s Starlink Officially Launches in Indonesia, Extends Satellite Internet to Remote Islands
The debate also touched on the potential for future investments by Elon Musk, including possibilities in the electric vehicle sector through his other company, Tesla, which has been a point of interest for Indonesia.
The minimal employment impact of Starlink’s investment in Indonesia highlights the complexities of foreign direct investments and their actual benefits to local economies. For international observers, this case serves as a focal point in discussions on the effectiveness of foreign investments in job creation.
Indonesia’s Minister of Investment discussed the surprisingly small scale of Starlink’s investment in Indonesia, noting it employs only three people, despite the high profile of its owner, Elon Musk. This revelation has sparked debate about the nature and benefits of foreign investments in the country.
Sources: CNN Indonesia, Kontan (2024)
