Prabowo: I See a Bright Future for Indonesia

JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia’s future looked bright after seeing the development of industry and downstream processing at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Central Halmahera regency, North Maluku. He dismissed claims that Indonesia was on the verge of collapse.

“Those who say Indonesia is gloomy, that it will collapse — every month they predict that we will collapse. But today I came here and I see a bright future for Indonesia,” Prabowo said at the launch of a downstream-processing programme at IWIP in Central Halmahera on Thursday (8 October 2026).

According to a live broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel, Prabowo said his view had formed after seeing activity at the industrial estate first-hand, including the welcome from workers, whose enthusiasm he noted.

“I was welcomed by the employees with such enthusiasm, and they all looked cheerful. I didn’t see anyone looking gloomy today,” he said.

The President also said that visits to eastern Indonesia made him feel more energised. He linked this to what he described as his own eastern Indonesian heritage.

“When I go to eastern Indonesia, I feel even more energised. Could it be because I also have half eastern Indonesian blood?” Prabowo said.