Food and energy self-sufficiency is important for Indonesia, the country’s new President Prabowo Subianto said after being inaugurated as president for the 2024-2029 period at the parliament building in Jakarta, on Sunday (Oct. 20).

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s new President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of food and energy self-sufficiency in his inaugural speech before the Plenary Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly after being inaugurated as president for the 2024-2029 period, in Jakarta, on Sunday (Oct. 20).

The president said that amid the current global uncertainty, Indonesia must immediately achieve food self-sufficiency in a short time, according to the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat in a written statement quoted by Indonesia Window on Monday.

According to him, in a global crisis situation, no country would prioritize the sale of important commodities, such as food.

"Therefore, there is no other way as in the shortest possible time we must achieve food security. We must be able to produce and meet the food needs of all Indonesian people," President Prabowo Subianto stated.

The head of state is optimistic that in the next four to five years, not only would Indonesia be able to achieve food self-sufficiency, but also become the world's food barn.

"I have studied with the experts who helped me. I am sure that in four to five years at the latest we would be food self-sufficiency. In fact, we are ready to become the world's food barn," he said.

In addition to food self-sufficiency, President Prabowo also highlighted the importance of energy self-sufficiency.

By utilizing Indonesia's natural resources, including palm oil, cassava, sugar cane, sago, as well as geothermal and coal energy, the head of state believes that Indonesia can achieve energy self-sufficiency.

"The government that I will lead later will focus on achieving energy self-sufficiency. We must also manage our water well. Alhamdulillah (all praises be to Allah ﷻ), we have sufficient water sources and we already have the technology to produce cheap water that can meet our needs," he said.

In terms of people's welfare, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of distributing subsidies that are right on target by utilizing digital technology, and for that the president is committed to ensuring that Indonesian children get proper nutrition.

"Our children must all be able to eat nutritious food at least once a day, and we will do that, and we can do that," he said.

In the economic sector, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of commodity downstreaming to increase added value for the national economy.

"The added value of all commodities must increase our economic strength so that people can achieve a prosperous standard of living," he explained.

President Prabowo also conveyed his commitment to eradicating corruption through system improvements and strict law enforcement, stressing that efforts to eradicate corruption must start from the top.

“There is a saying that says, 'if the fish becomes rotten, the rot starts from the head," he said, adding that all officials from all echelons and all levels must set an example to carry out the cleanest possible government leadership," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window