Jakarta, October 23, 2024 – The Europe Today: President Prabowo Subianto has called on his Cabinet ministers to work collectively toward achieving food and energy self-sufficiency during his 2024–2029 term. In his speech at the first plenary session of the Red and White Cabinet held at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, President Prabowo underscored the importance of these initiatives as crucial to strengthening Indonesia’s position in the face of ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty.
“We must be self-sufficient in food; that is a basic priority because if we look at the current global situation, a major war can break out at any time,” the President remarked. He emphasized that securing the nation’s ability to provide for its own population is vital, alongside achieving energy independence. “Energy self-sufficiency is absolute,” he added.
Highlighting Indonesia’s wealth of natural resources, Prabowo noted that the potential to ensure food self-sufficiency is substantial. However, he stressed the need to capitalize on these resources through the downstreaming of industries, urging the ministers to prioritize this in their efforts.
President Prabowo expressed optimism that the government’s downstreaming program would pave the way for energy self-sufficiency. He emphasized that key ministries, including the Investment and Downstreaming Ministry, National Development Planning Ministry, and Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, bear the responsibility for executing this program effectively.
The President also called for the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the National Economic Council to help identify and prioritize critical projects within the downstreaming initiative. “We currently have 26 major commodity projects that must be downstreamed immediately. Make a list, and we will promptly seek funding to begin downstreaming in the shortest possible time,” Prabowo said.
Food, energy, and water self-sufficiency form part of the 17 priority Astacita programs outlined by the President. The downstreaming of natural resources is seen as a critical step in ensuring long-term food, energy, and water security for the benefit of the Indonesian people.
