Bogor — President Prabowo Subianto delivered a briefing on the broad direction of national development, emphasizing a strategy to transform the nation and improve the quality of life for all citizens. During his presentation at the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of Central and Regional Governments at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), Bogor Regency, on Monday (02/02), the President underlined that the primary goal is to ensure citizens live decently and prosperously.
“We do not dream of becoming a high-income country. We do not dream of living like Norway or Canada. We simply want all our people to live with a good quality of life. That means adequate and healthy food, guaranteed healthcare, children receiving a proper education, and sufficient income,” President Prabowo said.
The President explained that this transformation strategy is implemented through eight Asta Cita missions, 17 priority programs, and fast-track flagship initiatives. Within this agenda, food self-sufficiency and energy self-sufficiency are positioned as the main pillars of national independence.
“To summarize more simply: our first foundation, whether we like it or not, is that we must achieve food self-sufficiency. There is no alternative. If we want independence, if we want prosperity, we must ensure food production so that all our people can access it. Food self-sufficiency is essential; it is the primary pillar of the strategy,” he added.
In addition to food, the President emphasized the importance of energy independence to sustain development and strengthen national economic resilience. The government continues to optimize domestic resources so that Indonesia does not rely on foreign supplies.
“Energy self-sufficiency—must happen! Some may ask, ‘Can it be done?’ Yes! We have calculated it, and we have extraordinary potential,” the President asserted.
According to Prabowo, food and energy self-sufficiency are also key to reversing economic flows so that benefits are more widely felt by the people, especially in rural areas.
“Food self-sufficiency, energy self-sufficiency, then we must change the flow of money from villages to cities, to the capital, and abroad. We must stop and reverse it, among others, through programs like Free Nutritious Meals. Our children must eat adequately,” he continued.
In his address, the President also highlighted Indonesia’s enormous potential in the bioenergy sector, particularly palm oil. He stressed that palm oil is not only a food commodity but also a strategic energy raw material.
“Biodiesel can be free from foreign dependence. Palm oil is not just for cooking oil,” he added.
The President even pointed out the potential use of used cooking oil (jelantah) as a raw material for energy, including aviation fuel.
“Used cooking oil can become aviation fuel,” he said, while emphasizing the core principle of national energy policy: domestic resources must be prioritized for national interests.
“First and foremost, the interests of the Indonesian people,” he stressed.
Through this briefing, President Prabowo reaffirmed that food and energy self-sufficiency form the foundation of economic independence and are essential prerequisites for Indonesia to stand on its own amid global dynamics.