Indonesia Well-Positioned Amid Global Turbulence, Rising Energy Prices: Prabowo

JAKARTA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Indonesia remains resilient and well-prepared to navigate escalating global uncertainty and energy price volatility stemming from conflicts in West Asia, President Prabowo Subianto said on Wednesday.

He said data and reports from ministers indicate that while challenges persist, the country is in a stable position to manage them.

He added that at present, conflicts in West Asia have driven up energy prices, although the country remains in a stronger position than many others.

“Based on the data I have studied and reports from my ministers, our condition is quite secure. There are challenges, but we can face and overcome them,” he said during a briefing with Cabinet ministers at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.

Prabowo said Indonesia has navigated global economic and geopolitical pressures over the past 18 months, underscoring the government’s effectiveness in managing development through measurable achievements on the ground.

He stressed that global risks, including volatility in energy markets, should be viewed as opportunities to strengthen national resilience, improve efficiency and accelerate reforms.

He added that Indonesia’s strong domestic resources and strategic location place it in a favourable position compared with many countries facing similar external pressures.

“We must believe in our own strength. Indonesia is a great, rich, and powerful nation. Geopolitically, Indonesia is extremely strategic; the Malacca, Sunda, and Makassar Straits are vital global routes.

“Around 70 per cent of East Asia’s energy passes through these waters, (and) this shows how crucial Indonesia’s position is…In energy, we have significant potential, from coal, and also alternative sources such as cassava and corn. In two to three years, we will become much stronger in energy,” he said.

The president added that the government would continue to safeguard key sectors, including maintaining fuel subsidies for the majority of the population, while ensuring long-term energy security through diversification and strengthening domestic capacity.

-- BERNAMA