President Prabowo: Law Enforcement Key to Stable Investment Climate
Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the national economic foundation through governance reform, improved human capital, and firm law enforcement to create a stable and conducive investment climate.
The head of state emphasised that Indonesia possesses a strong economic foundation and a credible fiscal track record. He stressed that Indonesia has never defaulted on its debt throughout its history.
“We have managed our economy wisely for many years. We have never defaulted, not even once in our history. Successive governments have always honoured the debts of their predecessors, even when they may have been strong political rivals,” the President said in his address at the Gala Iftar Dinner Business Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, United States, on Wednesday (18 February 2026).
The President acknowledged that Indonesia still faces significant challenges, including poverty, hunger, and child nutrition issues. However, he stressed that the government has chosen to confront these problems head-on and seek the best solutions. “We must have the courage to acknowledge our weaknesses and do our best to find solutions,” he said.
As a long-term strategy, the President announced the establishment of ten new STEM-based universities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) to address the shortage of medical professionals and accelerate the development of high-quality human resources. “We are short of 140,000 doctors and only graduate around 10,000 doctors per year. That means we need 14 years to close this gap, unless there is a breakthrough. That is why I have established ten STEM-based universities,” he explained.
In addition, the government has begun constructing 500 high-quality secondary schools and opened educational collaborations with overseas institutions, including leading universities from the United Kingdom and the United States.
On governance, the President reaffirmed his commitment to combating corruption and illegal economic activities, including unlawful mining and illegal logging. “I have shut down 1,000 illegal mines operating in protected forests. We have also seized approximately four million hectares of land from corporations that violated the law and operated beyond their concession areas,” he stated.
The President added that law enforcement and regulatory certainty are top priorities for creating the social and political stability that supports the business community. “We enforce the law and create certainty in legal processes. All of this will strengthen social stability, political stability, and create a conducive environment for business and economic activity,” he said.
The Gala Iftar, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, served as a symbol of Indonesia’s presence on the global stage — not only through its economic strength but also through its commitment to sustained reform.