By: Sumarji Andrawara (*)
The first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s administration has shown a clear, measurable development direction that prioritizes the people’s interests. The main focus outlined in the Asta Cita program places infrastructure development as a key foundation to achieve the vision of a Golden Indonesia by 2045. In this context, government policies not only target physical development but also aim to strengthen connectivity, economic equity, and national food security.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo considers that infrastructure development in the first year of the Prabowo-Gibran administration forms a very strategic foundation to leap further in the coming years. He emphasized that this sector is the backbone to accelerate the realization of the grand Asta Cita vision. According to him, the government is not merely building toll roads or bridges but also reinforcing irrigation foundations and water resources, which are essential supports for national food productivity.
Dody explained that next year’s infrastructure focus will continue to support the Asta Cita agenda, particularly in food security and equitable development. The construction of dams and irrigation systems across Indonesia will be intensified to optimize water management, both in areas with central and regional irrigation systems. The government is also starting to maximize the use of Groundwater Irrigation Networks (JIAT) to assist rain-fed rice fields that often face water supply constraints. With these steps, it is hoped that the agricultural sector will become more resilient to climate change while boosting national food productivity.
This strategic move aligns with President Prabowo’s grand vision, which prioritizes food independence and economic equity. In many regions, irrigation, dam, and reservoir projects are tangible symbols that development is no longer concentrated in urban areas but reaches rural villages and agricultural zones. The government strives to ensure that every drop of water managed through irrigation systems directly benefits farmers and rural communities.
From a political communication perspective, Hasrullah, a lecturer at Hasanuddin University’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), assesses that the infrastructure development direction under Prabowo-Gibran shows a more equitable paradigm shift. According to him, the focus is no longer solely on connectivity in Java but is directed toward strengthening development outside Java. This strategy aims to optimize economic equity and the distribution of industrial downstreaming results throughout Indonesia.
Hasrullah views this equitable connectivity policy as key to reducing regional disparities, which remain a major challenge in national development. Strategic roads, ports, and airports in eastern Indonesia, for example, are concrete proof of the government’s commitment to strengthening the national supply chain. With equitable connectivity, regional production outputs can be more easily distributed to economic centers, while investments will also spread proportionally.
From a fiscal standpoint, Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara affirms that the government provides full support through infrastructure funding allocations reaching more than IDR 400 trillion. These funds are used to finance vital sectors ranging from road and bridge construction, new rice field development, transportation projects, fisheries, to fishing village programs. According to him, significant investment in infrastructure is not a burden but a long-term capital to accelerate national economic growth.
Suahasil explained that infrastructure development has a dual effect on the economy. On one hand, it creates jobs and increases community productivity. On the other, adequate infrastructure lowers logistics costs, facilitates the flow of goods and services, and attracts more investment to regions. Rapidly growing economic activities will eventually become a sustainable source of investment and strengthen the country’s fiscal resilience.
He also highlighted the role of Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who is credited with optimizing national liquidity by placing a cash reserve of IDR 200 trillion in the national banking system. This move accelerates economic circulation through smoother credit distribution to productive sectors. With this policy, banks are encouraged to expand financing to business actors, including MSMEs and labor-intensive industries that drive the people’s economy.
The success of Prabowo-Gibran’s first year in building infrastructure foundations is inseparable from a collaborative approach between central and regional governments. Local governments are given greater space to innovate in planning and implementing strategic projects, with technical support and funding from the central government. This reflects real synergy between national vision and local needs, where development is carried out with principles of efficiency, transparency, and direct benefits for the community.
Going forward, the challenges are not only accelerating physical development but also maintaining continuity and quality of outcomes. The government is required to ensure that every infrastructure project delivers sustainable economic and social impacts. With careful planning and strict supervision, the foundations built in the first year will become a strong stepping stone for Indonesia’s giant leap toward economic independence and people’s welfare.
Closing the reflection on one year of Prabowo-Gibran’s government, it is fitting that all elements of the nation give full support to the Asta Cita program, especially in infrastructure. Development is not just to beautify the country’s face but to strengthen national competitiveness and create a more prosperous future. With the spirit of mutual cooperation and cross-sector collaboration, Indonesia can confidently stride toward a sovereign, just, and prosperous advanced nation as envisioned in the great Asta Cita.
(*) The author is an Infrastructure and Development Analyst