Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Electric Commercial Vehicle Assembly Plant at PT VKTR Sakti Industries Magelang, Central Java Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.

Distinguished Governor of Central Java, Retired Police General Ahmad Luthfi and the entire Regional Leadership Coordination Forum of Central Java Province;

Distinguished Regional Military Commander IV/Diponegoro Major General TNI Achiruddin Darojat, Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Ribut Hari Wibowo, Governor of Military Academy Major General TNI Rano Maxim Tilaar, Deputy Mayor of Semarang city Iswar Aminuddin, Regent of Magelang Grengseng Pamuji, President Commissioner of PT VKTR Mobility Technology, who is also the General Chairperson of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Anindya Bakrie as our host along with all PT VKTR Sakti employees;

Distinguished Ministers of the Red-White Cabinet in attendance: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Infantry Teddy Indra Wijaya, also General Chairperson of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association Akbar Buchari, Chief Executive Officer of PT VKTR Mobility Technology Ardiansyah Bakrie and all his staff;

Distinguished Leaders of Transportation Associations and Private Companies, from PT Damri, PT Trisakti, 99 Cahaya, Bluebird, Tujuh Sukses, EasyGo, and TransJakarta;
Religious Leaders and Community Leaders of Magelang;
All guests, fellow journalists and media.

As faithful individuals, let us express our deepest gratitude and praise to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, the Almighty God. For Muslims, to Him alone we offer our prayers and from Him alone we seek guidance and assistance.

We are deeply grateful for many blessings bestowed upon us, including the gift of good health and the peace enjoyed by our nation and state. It is by His Grace that we are able to be present at this occasion – the inauguration of PT VKTR Sakti Industries’ first electric-based commercial vehicle assembly facility.

I welcome and commend this initiative, which was undertaken several years ago by Mr. Anindya Bakrie, his family, and his business group, who have consistently worked continuously with a clear vision – to contribute to Indonesia’s development and national transformation. As a business group, their commitment to participating in the nation’s industrialization is highly commendable. Industrialization represents a critical stage in a nation’s technological advancement, where technology is transformed into an industry to deliver tangible benefits for society. Industry itself evolves across various levels, ranging from basic and intermediate industry to advanced industries, and beyond.

We recognize that every nation must now achieve self-reliance in its most strategic sectors, foremost in food and subsequently in energy. For a nation as large as ours, if it is to remain independent and ensure, it has no choice but to attain such self-sufficiency, with energy standing as one of the most decisive domains.

Alhamdulillah, through strong collaboration among various stakeholders, we have achieved a significant level of food self-reliance. While certain commodities may still require attention, we are no longer confronted with fundamental food security concerns. The priority moving forward is to ensure equitable distribution, so that no individual in Indonesia experiences hunger.

In the energy sector, Indonesia is endowed with substantial and abundant resources. Amid ongoing global uncertainties, while many countries face heightened concerns, we must remain vigilant, yet optimistic. Although challenges are expected in the coming months, we are supported by strong and diverse energy reserves. Nevertheless, it is essential that we continue to promote energy conservation. At the same time, we must accelerate the transition toward clean and renewable energy sources. A key step in this direction is electrification, by prioritizing the use of electricity over excessive reliance of fossil-based or carbon-intensive fuels.

Thus, VKTR’s initiative, VKTR Industries, is a historic step and a source of pride. It is, as the proverb says, “pucuk dicinta ulam pun tiba.” This is exactly the kind of achievement we expect from Indonesia’s finest talents.

Indeed, our nation needs to gradually move away from carbon-based, fossil energy and use it only for strategic purposes. At present, jet fuel can already be produced from palm oil, and we have an abundant supply of palm oil. Jet fuel can even be made from used oil waste, from residual cooking, all of which be processed into jet fuel. In the near future, we will open processing centers and refineries for this purpose, and we will invest on a large scale in this sector.

So today I am very pleased and deeply proud that here in Indonesia we now have the capability to produce electric buses and trucks. This is an extremely important achievement. I also hope that by 2028 we will be able to begin mass-producing electric sedans.

Now we have electric buses and electric trucks with substantial capacity, which is truly impressive. I have received reports that VKTR has the capability to produce up to 10,000 electric buses. The local content level has now reached 40 percent, and in the near future, perhaps within two years, it is expected to reach 60 percent. Two years after that, it is projected to reach 80 percent.

This is very impressive. We now have a bus industry and a truck industry. I would also like to thank Governor of Central Java, who conveyed that the Central Java Provincial Government has ordered dozens of buses. From Jakarta as well, there have been quite a number of orders for Transjakarta.

I hope that other provincial governments throughout Indonesia will also support and purchase products made by our own nation. Mr. State Secretary, please take note of any governors who do not place order for domestically produced buses and trucks. The Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) should also place orders for these domestic products.

This is truly impressive. Mr. Anindya is indeed highly visionary. He understands clearly the direction of development that our nation must pursue. Although your father is my friend, today he has every reason to proud. Why didn’t he not attend today? Please remind him.

This is truly extraordinary. I am pleased that this initiative is in line with the direction of our country’s development. We are also in the process of establishing a company to produce electric sedans.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have decided that we will implement a 100-gigawatt electrification program, which we aim to complete within the next two years. As part of this effort, we will no longer rely on diesel power plants. Accordingly,, we will shut down 13 state-owned diesel power plants. Through this measure, we expect to save approximately 200,000 barrels of fuel per day.

We still import around 1 million barrels of fuel per day at present. By shutting down diesel power plants, we will immediately save about 20 percent of that volume. With the implementation of the 100-gigawatt electrification program, we will further reduce fuel consumption on a massive scale. It is therefore very possible that within the next two to three years, we will no longer import fuel at all. We have great inherent strength as a nation; we are serious in our efforts, and we will be self-reliant, strong, and able to stand firmly on our own feet.

For our young people, our future is bright. Those who claim otherwise, who say that Indonesia’s future is dark, perhaps it is their vision that is clouded – both their eyes and their hearts. Indonesia is not dark. Indonesia is very bright; we are very strong, and growing ever stronger. Our economic growth is sound, and next year we will astonish the world. Indonesia is rising. This giant is awakening; we will no longer be a sleeping giant – we are rising.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This joy will be followed by other moments of pride, by other breakthroughs. As mentioned earlier, our waste problems will be addressed using Indonesia’s own technology, at affordable costs .

Once again, I extend my gratitude to all of you, to all parties who have made today a historic milestone. I am proud to be here and will continue to closely monitor your progress. If you encounter any difficulties, you have many channels through which to convey them, and the Government will help to resolve them, because I regard this as a very important industry.

I hope VKTR will grow to become one of our national champions. If Japan has Isuzu and Hino, and Korea has Hyundai and Daewoo, then I hope that in a few years we will regard VKTR as one of Indonesia’s leading companies. Especially as the company has chosen mountain series names such as Tidar. Coincidentally, I was raised in the Tidar Valley in my youth, and I have many memories in Tidar, many memories in Magelang. Moreover, the next name is Lokon. My mother is from Minahasa, and Mount Lokon is very well-known in Minahasa.

This is very impressive. Mr. Anin’s team is excellent; he could have chosen names like Kerinci or Semeru [but] instead he chose Tidar and Lokon. This deserves our full support. Thank you. I should not speak for too long, because if Prabowo Subianto is given a podium and a microphone, he can lecture for three hours, especially when there is coffee here. Allow me to sip the coffee first, but I will not continue my speech. To reassure you, I will simply read the final sentence.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

May prosperity be upon us all,

Shalom,
Salve,
Om santi santi santi om,

Namo buddhaya,

Greetings of virtue.

Merdeka!

By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon, Thursday, April 9, 2026, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby inaugurate the VKTR Electric-Based Commercial Vehicle Assembly Plant.

(EST/EP)