Jakarta, February 19, 2026 – The Europe Today: President Prabowo Subianto has underscored Indonesia’s strong fiscal credibility, stating that the country has never defaulted on its debt obligations throughout its history, supported by prudent economic management and sound fiscal fundamentals.
“We have managed our economy prudently for many years. We have never defaulted, not once in our history. We have never failed to pay our debts,” the President said, as quoted by the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.
He made the remarks during an Iftar Dinner and Business Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC, on Wednesday (February 18).
President Prabowo emphasized that successive Indonesian administrations have consistently honored debts incurred by previous governments, regardless of political differences, reinforcing the nation’s reputation as a reliable economic partner.
Highlighting his administration’s priorities, the Head of State outlined a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Indonesia’s economic foundation. This includes governance reforms, improving the quality of human resources, and ensuring firm law enforcement to foster a stable and conducive investment climate.
Acknowledging persistent challenges such as poverty, hunger, and child malnutrition, the President stressed the need for courage and transparency in addressing national issues.
“I believe problems must be addressed head-on. We must have the courage to acknowledge our weaknesses and do our best to find the best solutions,” he stated.
As part of a long-term development strategy, President Prabowo announced the establishment of ten new STEM-based universities aimed at addressing the country’s shortage of medical professionals and accelerating human capital development.
“We lack 140,000 doctors and only graduate around 10,000 doctors per year. That means it would take 14 years to close the gap unless we undertake new efforts, which is why I am establishing ten new STEM universities,” he explained.
In addition, Indonesia is building 500 high-quality secondary schools and expanding educational partnerships with leading institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States to further strengthen academic excellence and workforce readiness.
The President reaffirmed that strengthening education and human capital remains central to Indonesia’s long-term economic resilience and global competitiveness.
