Prabowo: Many countries seek fertiliser assistance from Indonesia

I am abroad as President of Indonesia; I am very respected now. Many countries are asking for help from us. Jakarta (ANTARA) - President RI Prabowo Subianto stated that several countries are requesting fertilizer assistance from Indonesia as domestic fertilizer production rises. “I am abroad as President of Indonesia; I am very respected now. Many countries are asking for help from us,” Prabowo said in a speech delivering the Macro Economic Framework and the Fiscal Policy Fundamentals (KEM-PPKF) for the 2027 State Budget at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday. Prabowo said Indonesia is increasingly respected at the international level. He cited countries such as Australia, India, Brazil, and the Philippines asking for fertiliser from Indonesia because domestic fertiliser production is deemed sufficient. According to the President, this condition shows Indonesia has the capacity to help other countries, including those with more advanced economies. “Indeed there are still many shortcomings, and I am someone who always invites us to be brave in facing our shortages, our difficulties, and our challenges. We must be able to overcome embezzlement in our economy. If that is the case, we will grow extraordinarily,” he said. Prabowo also emphasised the importance of tackling embezzlement in the economy so that national growth can proceed more effectively. Prabowo said the government has anticipated potential global crises after learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and various global food instabilities. Therefore, the government has established national food security and self-sufficiency as priority programmes. Prabowo stated that national food production is currently at its highest in Indonesia’s history, while rice stocks have reached more than 5.3 million tonnes, so the government needs to rent additional warehouses for storage. Prabowo said farmers are now able to obtain fertiliser in sufficient quantities, but the government still needs to monitor so that subsidised fertiliser is not embezzled or smuggled elsewhere. “Our farmers now can enjoy adequate quantities of fertiliser. What we must safeguard now is that subsidised fertiliser is not embezzled or smuggled to other places. This must be guarded together,” he said.