President Prabowo to Discuss Food and Energy Issues at ASEAN Summit

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia stated that President Prabowo Subianto will discuss food and energy issues at the 2026 ASEAN Summit held in the Philippines. “Tomorrow, God willing, the President will attend the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, with the Philippines as the host. There are two issues: the first is food, and the second is energy,” Bahlil said when met at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta on Wednesday. Regarding the energy issue, one of the discussions at the ASEAN Summit will be on how to build energy strength in Southeast Asia, and nickel is one of the energy commodities that plays an important role. “Nickel is one of the energy commodities that can be converted into batteries,” Bahlil said. If the Philippines is interested in becoming a nickel supplier for smelters in Indonesia, Bahlil said Indonesia is open to it. “If Indonesia lacks raw materials, it can be supplied from anywhere. So, there are no more technical or specific cooperation issues,” he said. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the focus of the 2026 ASEAN Summit is to address the impact of global conflicts, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, on the ASEAN region. The document highlighted by the Philippines is related to regional stability and resilience, especially in the field of economic development. Regarding Myanmar, he mentioned that non-political officials from Myanmar will attend the 2026 ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines.