Prabowo States Indonesia Is Not a Rice Field or Farm for Other Nations

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that the Indonesian nation is not a field of wealth for other nations. Prabowo does not want the nation’s riches to flow out of the country without directly benefiting the Indonesian people. “The Indonesian nation is not a field and rice paddy to have its wealth taken and carried abroad. I repeat, the Indonesian nation does not want to be someone else’s rice paddy, does not want to be someone else’s field,” said Prabowo, during the groundbreaking of 13 downstreaming projects held in Cilacap, Central Java, on Wednesday (29/4/2026). “The Indonesian nation wants Indonesia’s wealth to be in the hands of and enjoyed by the Indonesian people. I have said this many times and I am determined to achieve it,” he asserted. Therefore, the government is initiating several downstreaming projects, including the 13 projects whose groundbreaking took place today. According to Prabowo, these 13 downstreaming projects in the energy, mineral, and agriculture sectors mark the beginning. There are still many downstreaming plans targeting other commodities. Prabowo stated that this downstreaming programme aims to prosper the nation and the Indonesian people. “So that we can become more prosperous and that prosperity must reach the people. The rich cannot be just 0.1 percent at the top. We are open. Indonesia must be for everyone. Those who are strong, go ahead; we are not against the rich. But the rich must be nationalist,” he said. Furthermore, Prabowo stated that downstreaming is the only way to further prosper Indonesia. For Prabowo, a nation that wants to be independent and remain independent is one that is brave and capable of mastering its own resources. “So, brothers and sisters, one form of courage is the nation’s courage to master its resources and process those resources in its own country,” Prabowo added.