President Prabowo Affirms Stability, Legal Certainty, Human Resource Reform at U.S. Chamber of Commerce

President Prabowo offers his remarks at the Gala Iftar Dinner of the Business Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington DC, Wednesday (02/18). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto expounded the Government’s commitment to strengthening national economic foundation through governance reform, human resources quality improvement, and firm legal enforcement to create a stable and conducive investment climate. The Head of State affirmed that Indonesia has a strong economic foundation and a credible fiscal track record, and Indonesia has never defaulted on its debts throughout its history.

“We have managed our economy wisely for many years. We have never defaulted, never once in our history. We have never failed to pay our debts. Even our successive governments will always honor the debts of their previous governments, even though they may be very strong opponents of each other,” said President Prabowo in his remarks at the Gala Iftar Dinner of the Business Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (02/18).

The Head of State also admitted that Indonesia still faces significant challenges, including poverty, hunger, and child nutrition issues. However, President Prabowo emphasized that his approach is to confront the issues head-on and seek the best solutions.

“I believe that problems must be addressed head-on. We must have the courage to admit our weaknesses and do our best to find the best solution,” he stressed.

As part of his long-term strategy, President Prabowo announced the establishment of ten new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine)-based universities to address the shortage of medical personnel and accelerate the development of superior human resources.

“We have a shortage of 140,000 doctors but produce only about 10,000 doctors per year. That means it will take us 14 years to fill this gap unless new efforts are made. That is why I am establishing ten new STEM-based universities,” the President said.

In addition, the Government has begun building 500 high-quality secondary schools and opened collaborations in the education sector with foreign institutions, including leading universities from the UK and the US. Regarding governance, President Prabowo emphasized his strong commitment to eradicating corruption and illegal economic activities, including illegal mining and logging.

“I just shut down 1,000 illegal mines. They were mining in protected forests. I also confiscated around 4 million hectares of land from corporations that violated laws and regulations, operating outside permitted areas, outside their concessions, and so on,” he stressed.

President Prabowo also emphasized that law enforcement and regulatory certainty are top priorities for creating social and political stability that supports the business world.

“We enforce the law. We strive to create an atmosphere of certainty regarding the legal process. I think all of this will contribute to a climate of social stability, political stability, and create a conducive environment for business and economic activities,” he said.

The iftar event in Washington, D.C., also symbolizes Indonesia’s presence on the global stage not only with economic strength but also with a commitment to real and sustainable reform. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat) (AW/TM)