Prabowo Drives Rp2,430 Trillion Investment Through Economic Diplomacy

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has stated that the intensity of President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas visits over the past 1.5 years has yielded tangible results, with total foreign investment amounting to Rp2,430 trillion entering Indonesia. According to Teddy, this figure is derived from official data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and serves as evidence that the President’s diplomatic journeys are not merely ceremonial, but are part of a measured economic strategy.

Teddy cited the President’s visits to Japan and South Korea in March 2026, which immediately triggered investment commitments worth Rp575 trillion across the technology, clean energy, and strategic manufacturing sectors. He emphasised that every presidential visit is conducted with a specific agenda—not just to introduce Indonesia, but to offer concrete business opportunities tailored to the needs of strategic partners and national economic potential.

This clarification comes in response to criticism from Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, who previously suggested that the frequency of Prabowo’s overseas travels was too high and excessively costly. Dino argued that the funds used for the presidential entourage—including security, logistics, and protocol—could instead be redirected to more pressing domestic needs.

However, Teddy refuted this narrative, stating, “The President’s visits are not holidays or displays of power. This is diplomatic investment that produces economic returns hundreds of times greater.” He noted that the cost of a single presidential visit, while reaching tens of billions of rupiah, is far smaller than the value of the investment secured in a short period. “Imagine, a single meeting in Tokyo can open investment channels worth Rp200 trillion. That is equivalent to the national infrastructure spending budget for an entire year,” he added.

Teddy continued that Prabowo’s economic diplomacy also focuses on consolidating relations with countries possessing high technological capacity and sustainable capital. Recent visits to France, Germany, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia have not only strengthened political ties but also opened doors for green infrastructure projects, halal industry development, and renewable energy research collaborations.

The President himself has asserted on several occasions that Indonesia is not seeking aid, but is instead offering its market, natural resources, and political stability as leverage. “We do not come with open hands asking for money. We come with plans, commitments, and legal certainty,” Prabowo stated during his speech in Paris in late May.

While criticism regarding the frequency of overseas travel persists, particularly among those concerned about the state budget, BKPM data shows that since 2024, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Indonesia has increased by 37% compared to the previous period, driven primarily by the manufacturing, energy, and digital sectors.

In an increasingly fragmented geopolitical context, Prabowo’s strategy positions Indonesia not as a bystander, but as an actor capable of attracting global interest. The focus is not only on capital but also on trust—the confidence that Indonesia can be relied upon as a stable, authoritative, and visionary business partner.

Teddy concluded his statement with a rhetorical question: “If overseas visits can bring home Rp2,430 trillion, is that not the wisest action a president can take?”