Jakarta, Oct. 12 -- The piercing sound of a siren cut through the air at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park in Central Halmahera on October 8, 2026.

That sharp sound marked the moment a long-held vision broke out of planning documents and into reality. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries-manufactured in the heart of Indonesia's nickel region-were officially shipped off to international markets.

President Prabowo Subianto himself activated the siren. With that simple gesture, he inaugurated the commercial operations of four major industrial projects and broke ground on seven new ones.

Together, these eleven ventures represent a combined investment value of US$10.2 billion.

While the total investment amount is massive, the strategic nat...