Jakarta –
The Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia said Volkswagen or VW through PowerCo will build an electric vehicle battery industry in Indonesia.
Reporting from Reuters, VW is said to be partnering with a number of companies in Indonesia, one of which is the holding company of Merdeka Battery, Merdeka Copper Gold.
Regarding this, the President Director of PT Merdeka Battery Materials Tbk (MBMA), Devin Ridwan, opened his voice. He said that Merdeka Battery really appreciates the planned collaboration with VW.
“Of course MBMA really appreciates and is very happy with the news that MBMA can be included in the ecosystem, especially being able to work with VW,” he said in a press conference at the Indonesia Stock Exchange, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/4/2023).
However, Devin said that the collaboration was still in the discussion stage. But Devin said this was a very good initial stage for Merdeka Battery.
“The form of the collaboration is still in the discussion stage, so of course this is a very good initial stage for MBMA, including in an ecosystem according to the mission of MBMA,” he explained.
Devin has not been able to divulge details of the collaboration with VW. However, he confirmed that there had been talks from the Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia.
“What we heard just yesterday happened to be a talk from Pak Bahlil. We appreciate the government’s support for ecosystems, companies in this value chain ecosystem. For us, what form do we enter into the concrete form, not yet,” he said.
Merdeka Battery is a subsidiary of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk (MDKA). MDKA own shareholders include PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya Tbk and there is the name Garibaldi Thohir or Boy Thohir who is the brother of BUMN Minister Erick Thohir.
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