Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. National Economic Council (DEN) Chair Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Monday (1/12/2025)  clarified the history and status of the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) airport in Central Sulawesi. 

“The IMIP airport was approved only for domestic flights, never as an international airport,” he said, as reported by antaranews.com.

Luhut explained that the airport was approved during his tenure as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, following inter-agency discussions. He said the facility was part of investment support for Chinese investors who have committed over USD 20 billion and created more than 100,000 jobs in Morowali.

He also detailed Indonesia’s long-term industrial downstreaming strategy, noting that cooperation with China began after Jakarta sought partners capable of meeting technology and market demands. Downstreaming at Morowali has since boosted exports to USD 34 billion last year.

The issue resurfaced after Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin highlighted the absence of state apparatus at the facility during the Indonesian Military (TNI) exercise inspection in Morowali on 20 November 2025. 

The Ministry of Transportation later confirmed the airport’s official status. saying that customs, police, and Kemenhub personnel have been deployed to ensure compliance. Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa also stated the airport previously received a special permit.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)