Global Crisis is a Blessing in Disguise, Says Prabowo

JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto has characterised the current global crisis as a blessing in disguise for Indonesia, arguing that the crisis forces the country to accelerate its good intentions and programmes.

Prabowo made these remarks whilst addressing the first anniversary celebration of Danantara Indonesia in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

“This crisis, in my view, is a blessing in disguise. Certainly it is full of difficulties and challenges, but it forces us to accelerate our good intentions,” Prabowo said on Wednesday evening.

He expressed confidence that Indonesia would emerge from the crisis stronger through these programmes, stating: “I am convinced that the Indonesian nation has been blessed with extraordinary natural wealth and we are capable of overcoming this crisis. We will emerge from this crisis even stronger.”

The former Defence Minister then outlined Indonesia’s self-sufficiency targets currently being implemented. According to Prabowo, food self-sufficiency has been partially achieved, with rice being one of the food items that has successfully reached self-sufficiency status.

To achieve these goals, Prabowo has already ordered several development projects to be undertaken in the near term, including the expansion of renewable energy capacity to 100 gigawatts (GW).

“We have vast quantities of palm oil, we will have sufficient cassava, we can obtain fuel from corn and sugarcane. Our people have enormous geothermal resources—if I am not mistaken, the second-largest untapped reserves in the world,” Prabowo noted.