Prabowo Inquires About Indonesia’s Economic Situation, Purbaya: ‘It’s Good, No Problems’

Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said he was asked by President Prabowo Subianto about the current state of Indonesia’s economy at a limited meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 18 May 2026. He said in response that the Indonesian economy is in good shape, including a fiscal position that is not problematic. ‘Asked how the economy is doing, it’s good, the budget is also good, no problems. The economic foundation is really solid,’ he said.

As a result, he said he had been tasked by the head of state to intensify outreach to the public, including investors, about the improving economic conditions. ‘But the socialisations should be better directed to the markets, to investors as well, that’s all,’ he added.

As is known, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has indeed announced that year-on-year growth for Q1 2026 reached 5.61%. This growth is the highest since Q3 2022 (5.73%), the strongest in 14 quarters. However, the rapid pace of growth in the first three months of this year has not been matched by stability in the rupiah’s exchange rate against the US dollar. Instead of strengthening, the rupiah has continued to weaken to levels above Rp 17,600 yesterday.

Purbaya said he was not asked about the rupiah’s condition in the limited meeting. ‘No, not about the rupiah,’ he stressed. He did, however, signal that the Prabowo Subianto administration will have a special strategy to maintain economic and exchange-rate stability, which will be presented to the DPR in the near future. ‘The rest of it later—it’s the President’s strategy—will be read before the DPR, if I’m not mistaken,’ Purbaya said.