Prabowo Subianto, the President-elect for 2024-2029, expressed his optimism about Indonesia’s economy achieving a growth rate of up to 8% in the next two to three years. He made this statement during the 2024 Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Wednesday (15/5), where he discussed the projected economic growth during his upcoming five-year term.
Prabowo confidently stated, “I am very confident; I have spoken with experts and studied the numbers. I believe we can easily reach 8%. I am determined to exceed that.” He was accompanied by Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka and emphasized that achieving this growth would require implementing downstreaming policies, which may take a few years.
The President-elect outlined agriculture, food production and distribution, and energy as key drivers of economic growth in the initial year of his government. He highlighted the importance of transitioning to green energy, specifically mentioning the production of diesel from palm oil as a potential significant economic driver.
Prabowo also clarified that adopting downstreaming policies does not signify a protectionist economic stance but rather aims to transform Indonesia into an advanced industrial nation. He asserted that it is essential to protect the country’s natural resources for the benefit of its people and ensure that they receive the full value of these resources instead of relying on imports for industrial goods.
In conclusion, Prabowo stated, “We want to industrialize, and it is our natural resources that must be protected for the people’s benefit. We must get full value for it. We can’t keep importing industrial goods all the time. That’s not fair to our people.” He emphasized the importance of prioritizing national interests and protecting the welfare of the Indonesian population.
