Remarks of the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening Ceremony of the 18th National Congress of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI)
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Distinguished Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Mr. Ahmad Muzani, together with the Deputy Speakers of the MPR in attendance;
Distinguished Speaker of the House of Regional Representatives (DPD RI), Mr. Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, together with the Deputy Speakers of the DPD in attendance;
Members of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) present here today;
Chairman of the Central Executive Board of HIPMI, Mr. Akbar Himawan Buchari, together with all regional HIPMI leaders from across Indonesia whom I am proud of;
The senior figures of HIPMI in attendance;
Founder and Chairman of HIPMI for the period 1972–1973, Mr. Abdul Latief, whom I deeply respect;
Former HIPMI Chairmen Mr. Sharif Cicip Sutarjo (1986–1989), Mr. Bambang Wiyogo (1995–1998), Mr. Erwin Aksa (2008–2011), and Mr. Raja Sapta Oktohari (2011–2015);
The candidates for HIPMI Chairman: Candidate number 1, Mr. Reynaldo Bryan; Candidate number 2, Mr. Ade Jona Prasetyo; Candidate number 3, Mr. Afi Kalla; and Candidate number 4, Mr. Anthony Leong;
Members of the Red and White Cabinet in attendance, including Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bahlil Lahadalia, who is also Chairman of the HIPMI Honorary Board and a former HIPMI Chairman; Minister of State Secretary, Mr. Prasetyo Hadi; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sugiono; Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas, Mr. Maruarar Sirait; Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin; Vice Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry, Mr. Todotua Pasaribu; and Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Teddy Indra Wijaya;
Governor of Lampung province, Mr. Rahmat Mirzani Djausal;
Regents and Mayors in attendance;
Distinguished guests and members of the media.
I mentioned Governor of Lampung, but there are also other leaders in attendance, including: Vice Governor of Lampung, Ms. Jihan Nurlela; Speaker of Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of Lampung province, Mr. Ahmad Giri Akbar; Mayor of Bandar Lampung, Ms. Eva Dwiana; Mayor of Metro, Mr. Bambang Iman Santoso; Regent of West Lampung, Mr. Parosil Mabsus; Regent of East Lampung, Ms. Ela Siti Nuryamah; Regent of North Lampung, Mr. Hamartoni Ahadis; Regent of South Lampung, Mr. Radityo Egi Pratama; Regent of Pringsewu, Mr. Riyanto Pamungkas; Regent of Pesawaran, Ms. Nanda Indira Bastian; Regent of Tanggamus, Mr. Mohammad Saleh Asnawi; Vice Regent of Mesuji, Mr. Yugi Wicaksono; Vice Governor of West Sumatra.
Deputy Speaker of DPRD of Bangka Belitung province; member of DPRD of Jakarta province, Ms. Hilda Kusuma Dewi; Regent of Muaro Bungo, Mr. Dedy Saputro; Regent of Muaro Jambi, Dr. Bambang Bayu Suseno; Vice Mayor of Jambi, Mr. Diza Hazra Aljosha; Vice Mayor of Sarolangun, Mr. Gerry Trisatwika; Vice Regent of West Aceh; Vice Mayor of Langsa, Mr. Muhammad Haikal.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Without diminishing my respect for anyone, I may not mention everyone individually, but I mentioned almost all. Many senior HIPMI figures are not present today, although I have known many of them for a long time.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let us continually express our gratitude to Allah Almighty. We are blessed with health, blessings, and peace. Today we gather for the 18th National Congress of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI). I am informed that today, 10 June 2026, also marks HIPMI’s anniversary.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
HIPMI, as an organization of young entrepreneurs, is extremely important. Its founding spirit of nationalism, as mentioned earlier, is equally important. In reality, no nation can achieve progress without nationalism. Even the great thinkers of capitalism have argued that sustained economic growth can only emerge through nationalism.
Professor Liah Greenfeld, in her book The Spirit of Capitalism, wrote:
“Today, it is claimed, we live in the period of late capitalism, and possibly in the postindustrial society; yet nationalism is not gone, nor does it show any signs of being gone soon. Nationalism first appeared in England, becoming the preponderant vision of society there. The sustained growth characteristic of modern economy is not self-sustained; growth is stimulated and sustained by nationalism.”
I believe HIPMI members understand those, but I will explain the most important part, nationalism. “The sustained growth characteristic of modern economy” So, the characteristic of modern economy is not self-sustained, not grows automatically, not self-developed; growth is stimulated and sustained by nationalism. This is a capitalist idea.
So, ladies and gentlemen. Japan, the United States, and Western Europe advanced because of nationalism. China’s rise today is also driven by nationalism. Therefore, as previously stated by HIPMI leaders, including Mr. Siswono, the spirit that gave birth to HIPMI was nationalism.
But, ladies and gentlemen, let us ask ourselves, is our economic system based on nationalism? Let us review with an open mind, we will realize that our economic system faces many challenges and questions.
So, ladies and gentlemen, as an organization of young entrepreneurs, HIPMI has played a major role in producing leaders, not only business leaders but also national leaders. Many HIPMI figures have gone on to become ministers, business leaders, and leaders of major national institutions. Mr. Latief is a former minister and business leader, Mr. Siswono had been a minister several times. Mr. Aburizal Bakrie is a former coordinating minister, political leader of Golkar party, and Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Bahlil Lahadalia, Chairman of Golkar party and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
So, ladies and gentlemen, that was the HIPMI contribution. However, alongside this important role, I invite all of you to honestly assess our nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In my view, Indonesia has continued the ideas and legacy left by our founding fathers. They bequeathed to us extraordinary foundations. The first was the Youth Pledge: one homeland, one nation, one language. One language that united, even though it was not chosen by the majority language but by its minority. However, it unites people. The second was Pancasila, which united our diverse people into a single nation. Today, many young people take these achievements for granted.
Yet, ladies and gentlemen, when we see the world today, we see wars everywhere. Europe, the birthplace of democracy, is at war. Russia and Ukraine share many similarities in language and religion, yet they are locked in a war. Beyond that, there are conflicts in Gaza, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, and even among our regional neighbors Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
We should never take our peace and unity for granted. Great inheritances from our founding fathers are not only Pancasila, but also the 1945 Constitution. We must admit that we have neglected the 1945 Constitution, particularly Article 33.
So, ladies and gentlemen, as young entrepreneurs, economic drivers, and MSME actors. You must be wondering, if our country is rich, then why do we still see many people living in poor conditions? In my view, the problem is that we have neglected the fundamental principle—blueprint of our nation. How can we start a construction without a blueprint? If we do not follow the blueprint, a building will collapse. We had a blueprint, but we have neglected it.
The economy is organized as a joint endeavor based on the principle of solidarity. However, economic power is centralized for conglomerates. I am not a financial expert, but during my campaign I met women participating in the Mekaar ultra-micro credit program. Many of them were paying interest rates of around 24 percent. Meanwhile, large businesses could borrow from state-owned banks at rates of only 9 or 10 percent. How can the poor be charged higher interest rates than large corporations?
These are the distortions we must correct. I firmly believe that if we implement Article 33 wisely and consistently, Indonesia will rise rapidly and achieve greater prosperity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Indonesia is blessed with extraordinary resources from God Almighty. We watched a video showing the spice route map. For a long time, Indonesia has been visited for its richness. Foreigners have come and stayed in Indonesia for a long time, not for a holiday but to seek natural wealth. So, ladies and gentlemen, our challenge is to manage our wealth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
“Cabang-cabang produksi yang penting bagi negara, yang menguasai hajat hidup orang banyak harus dikuasai oleh negara” (Important sectors of production for the country and affect the life of the people are under the powers of the state). This is in Indonesian; no interpretation or translation needed, but must be implemented. Earth, water, and natural wealth within are managed by the state and used merely for the wealth of the people. The Constitution mandates this. We achieved our independence through the Constitution. Logically, this is our national wealth. When our wealth is managed, used and sold overseas, but the revenue is not received, does this make sense? Let’s say you have a store that opens every day, and you save the profit, then it is stolen. How will you feel?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
For a long time, our reserves have been stolen.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Previously, it was mentioned how many times I ran for President. It was mentioned I lost three times; wrong! I lost four times. The first time was in 2004 through the Golkar convention, so 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024. I lost four times, and people wondered when I would run for the fifth. Critics said Prabowo was ambitious to be President.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to become President, as I see Indonesia has been in the wrong direction since the 1990s. I have witnessed this. President is not an easy job. Our elites always argue, but not the majority of people. People know that to live prosperous lives, there must be unity, cooperation, and mutual complementation, not otherwise.
But elites are getting smarter. President Jokowi, who had fewer overseas visits, was criticized. Meanwhile, I have more overseas visits and was also criticized. This is actually not a problem. The world has changed. Geopolitical dynamics are getting more challenging. We do not know who are allies or enemies.
We are lucky; I am lucky, as President of Indonesia, we inherit from our founding fathers a non-aligned foreign policy. We are friends with all nations and powers. We are not involved with any military pacts. Therefore, once I was mandated as President, I emphasized this policy. A thousand allies are too few; one enemy is too many. This is what I believe. I have a good relationship with President Putin and President Trump, but I was criticized. Not a problem.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There will always be noise. What matters is that we remain confident about the path we have chosen. As long as I am convinced that I am working for the Indonesian nation and its people, I will never hesitate.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sometimes, as a country that is well-regarded by many nations, Indonesia finds itself in a unique position. Today, Indonesia is respected and sought after because we are known as a country that does not seek enemies. Now let me ask you this. There are always people who think they know everything better than everyone else. Imagine that I am the President of Indonesia. I was elected by the people to safeguard the interests of the Indonesian people.
If a superpower, say, President Trump, invites me to the United States, would I dare refuse? If the President of the United States invites the President of Indonesia and the Indonesian President does not attend, just imagine the consequences.
Then, if the President of Russia also extends an invitation, I cannot appear in Washington but ignore Moscow. That would not be appropriate. After that, President Xi Jinping invites me, of course I attend. Then India invites me. India is home to a population of 1.4 billion people, an enormous market, and advanced technology. The same applies to Brazil.
This is the responsibility of being a country that has many friends. Indonesia is the largest nation in ASEAN. We are members of APEC, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), BRICS, and the G20. When we are invited, we cannot simply choose not to attend. I want to tell you that protecting the interests of our people requires us to maintain good relations with every government. Therefore, I always say Indonesia’s foreign policy is that of being a good neighbour. We want to be a good neighbour to all countries around us and to every nation in the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Just over the past two or three days, I received no fewer than eighteen ambassadors. Almost all of them conveyed invitations from their respective presidents or prime ministers, saying, “We hope the President of Indonesia will visit our country.” Just imagine visiting eighteen countries, I would be exhausted from all the travelling.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am sharing this because you are the young leaders of today. Among you will undoubtedly emerge future national leaders, just as previous generations have done. You represent a community of future leaders, and therefore you must understand the challenges facing our nation. On this occasion, I want to remind you to remain faithful to our own history. Without loyalty to our history and love for our homeland, remember what I showed you earlier; even the founding fathers of capitalism acknowledged that there is no economic growth without nationalism.
Business leaders must also be patriotic entrepreneurs. It is perfectly acceptable to accumulate wealth, but every religion and every philosophy teaches that wealth earned honestly should be used for noble purposes, to help those who are less fortunate. Only then will Indonesia truly rise.
However, if you become wealthy only to move your assets overseas and show no concern for the people around you, our nation’s future will not be bright. Our strength lies in our national values, values passed down through generations by our ancestors, especially gotong royong (mutual cooperation), helping one another, and ensuring that the strong lift up the weak.
Entrepreneurs are the key to a nation’s revival. You are the ones who create jobs. Therefore, the government must establish a favorable environment for business. One essential condition is the rule of law. Without law enforcement, society descends into the law of the jungle, where power alone determines outcomes, and that ultimately harms us all.
Some have claimed that Prabowo dislikes foreign investors and intends to drive them away. The reality is quite the opposite. I have met many investors who are eager to invest in Indonesia. However, we also understand that there are those who dislike the enforcement of the law because they prefer disorder.
Therefore, I entrust HIPMI to rise with extraordinary patriotism. Difficulties will certainly come. Today, it is not only Indonesia that faces challenges; almost the entire world is struggling because of conflicts in the Gulf region, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Red Sea. Yet we remain grateful because our national strength is considerable. Challenges will continue to exist.
We have already achieved food self-sufficiency. Never underestimate the importance of food. Without food, no republic can survive. No nation exists without food security. Many countries are now in a state of panic because they struggle to secure food supplies. The United Nations has warned that this year could see widespread hunger. Thank God, Indonesia remains strong. We cannot ignore this reality.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are also moving toward energy self-sufficiency. We are working tirelessly, and based on our calculations, within the next three years Indonesia will become exceptionally strong in the energy sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Most importantly, we will carry out industrialization through downstream processing. Every one of our commodities will be processed domestically and transformed into industries here in Indonesia. This presents tremendous opportunities for young entrepreneurs. We refuse to remain merely a market for other nations. The Indonesian market must benefit the sons and daughters of Indonesia. After 81 years of independence, we must have vehicles designed and manufactured by Indonesians. We have already begun. The Indonesian National Defense Forces are now using military jeeps made by our own people. As your President, I now drive a vehicle manufactured by Indonesians.
This is starting to sound like a campaign speech, but the election is still a long way off. I am simply here to inspire your spirit.
A few days ago, I overheard some members of my staff asking, “How much does this car cost?” I thought to myself, “I can no longer ask questions like that.” Whether I like it or not, as President I must set an example by using a vehicle made by Indonesians. I understand that this car has only been under development for one or two years. Naturally, something new may not yet be as refined as a BMW or a Mercedes.
As for me, I use the Maung. I often sleep in the car during long trips. One day, while I was sleeping during heavy rain, I suddenly heard dripping sounds. I woke up and realized the car was leaking. Well, it was a new product. I sent it back to Pindad and said, “Please reduce the leaks.” Then, when driving in mountainous areas, the car rattled quite a bit. But that’s all right. For the sake of nationalism, I will continue using this car.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Never forget your parents. When you were young, they struggled to buy your shoes for school and your clothes. Perhaps your friends had better shoes, but yours came from your parents’ sacrifices. Whether those shoes were beautiful or worn out, whether the car leaks or rattles, it was built by Indonesians. It came from our own Motherland.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Believe me, Indonesia’s future is extraordinary. But the key is unity. We must live in harmony. Our ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, political affiliations, and cultures may differ, but our love for this country must never fade. As was said earlier, after competition comes unity. We must work together. That is why I consistently advocate the concept of Indonesia Incorporated.
Indonesia Incorporated means Indonesia acting as one unified economic entity. We compete not to destroy one another, but to elevate one another, to strengthen one another. Only foolish nations choose endless conflict. We have seen with our own eyes what has happened to countries blessed with immense wealth—oil, gas, gold—yet torn apart by civil war. I grieve for them because many of their leaders are my friends.
Look at Sudan, a country of extraordinary wealth, yet plagued by war. First, the North fought the South. The North was predominantly Muslim, the South predominantly Christian. The South gained independence, yet afterward the South fought among itself. Christians fought Christians. In the North, Muslims fought Muslims. Millions were displaced, tens of thousands lost their lives. The same can be said of rich countries such as Libya, Iraq, and Syria.
Therefore, young leaders, build a healthy political culture. Be patriotic, but also cooperative. Do not harbor hatred or resentment. Those are two things we must leave behind. Competition is natural. Winning and losing are part of life. I ran for President five times. I lost four times. What mattered was that eventually I was allowed to serve.
Believe it or not, when the General Elections Commission announced my victory, I won with 58.58 percent of the vote. Look at the numbers: five plus eight equals thirteen; thirteen plus thirteen equals twenty-six; two plus six equals eight. Who knows what’s behind this?
You can also check that the announcement was made at 14:03 Western Indonesia Time. One plus four equals five; five plus three equals eight.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
That was only the introduction. I actually have twenty-eight slides prepared, but perhaps we don’t need to go through them.
One of the qualities of a good leader is the ability to sense what the people want. I can already tell that many of you sitting in the front row are tired. Isn’t that right? I know you’re trying to stay enthusiastic because you don’t want people to say HIPMI lacks spirit. But deep down you’re probably thinking, “How much longer is he going to keep talking?”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Believe that we are on the right path. We have returned to the true principles of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. We are building a united Indonesia where every ethnic group, religion, race, and culture works together to build our nation. Believe it, our future is extraordinary. If I did not believe that, I would never have wanted to become President of Indonesia.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Now let me speak specifically to HIPMI, the entrepreneurs. Indonesian entrepreneurs have made mistakes in the past. Isn’t that true? You can’t fool me. I’ve known many of the HIPMI leaders since they were young. I know all of them, including Bambang Wiyogo, Cicip, and Mr. Latief.
But that’s all right. Let us leave our mistakes behind and move forward. From now on, do not even think about violating the law. You will lose. Why? Because now we have technology. We have artificial intelligence. Documents hundreds of pages long can now be analyzed in just five minutes. Contracts can be reviewed in minutes.
So let us build a better future together. Let us master and manage our resources for the greatest possible benefit of our people. We have every reason to believe we can build a great Indonesia. The world already sees that Indonesia’s rise is unstoppable. The calculations have already been made. If we are wise and disciplined, by 2045 Indonesia will become the world’s fourth-largest economy, after China, the United States, and India.
By then, about twenty years from now, many of you will be at the peak of your careers. As for me, I will be in Hambalang watching over you—if God has not yet called me home. And even if He has, I will still be watching. If any of you betray the Red and White flag, I’ll come looking for you in the middle of the night.
No need for the slides. Has everyone received my books? Not yet? Please make sure everyone gets them tomorrow. But don’t just display them on your shelves, read them.
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The main message is simple. Indonesia needs entrepreneurs who are determined, passionate, intelligent, and never give up. If you fall, rise again. Fall again, rise again. Above all, we must remain united and implement gotong royong. If anyone tries to sow division among us, believe me, they are working for interests other than Indonesia’s. Let those who constantly criticize continue talking.
Remember the old saying “Let the dogs bark; the caravan moves on.” We are on the right path. We are moving toward victory and national greatness. When our founding fathers declared independence, many people mocked them. They said, “Independence? How can we become independent when we can’t even make a safety pin?” Yet we achieved independence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Believe in your leaders. We will not betray you. We will not betray Indonesia. Since our youth, we have been prepared to sacrifice our lives for this nation. I want to die on the right path. I want to die under the Red and White flag. I want to die defending my people.
This time, I truly conclude.
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
May peace be upon us all.
Thank you, HIPMI.
Long live HIPMI!
I now invite HIPMI leaders, honorary chairpersons, former chairpersons, and prospective chairpersons to come forward.
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, on this Wednesday, June 10, 2026, I, Prabowo Subianto, hereby officially open the 18th National Congress of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI).
Thank you.
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
(RD/MUR)