Prabowo's Overseas Visits Viewed as Geo-economic Strategy for Indonesian Government
The prospective Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (BPP HIPMI), Anthony Leong, believes that President Prabowo Subianto’s visits to various countries represent an active government step towards strengthening economic cooperation, investment, trade, and human resource development. According to Leong, President Prabowo’s overseas visits should be viewed as part of a major strategy for national economic transformation, rather than merely routine diplomatic activities.
Anthony assessed that the President is implementing a geo-economic approach aimed at accelerating Indonesia’s exit from the middle-income trap. “President Prabowo is executing geo-economics in a practical manner. He is personally present in various countries to build strategic investment partnerships,” Anthony stated in a briefing on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
He further noted that the results of Prabowo’s international tours are becoming evident through the increasing global confidence in Indonesia. Various bilateral meetings and international forums have yielded significant investment commitments, covering sectors such as energy, industrial downstreaming, food security, infrastructure, the digital economy, and technological development.
Anthony explained that in an increasingly competitive global landscape, direct relationships between heads of state are a crucial factor in attracting investment and building trust among international business actors. He noted that the world is currently undergoing significant shifts in global supply and value chains. Consequently, Indonesia must take a strategic position to ensure it does not remain merely a supplier of raw materials, but becomes a key player in high-value-added industries.
“We are witnessing how the global value chain based on natural resources is being rewoven. Indonesia must not merely be a spectator. We must become a price maker, rather than continuously being a price taker,” said Anthony. “To achieve this, we require strong investment, technology, and global partnerships. This is precisely what President Prabowo is building through economic diplomacy.”