Appreciation for the 100 Days of the Prabowo-Gibran Administration’s Serious Effort to Achieve Economic Equality
By: David Kiva Prambudi
The Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration has shown a strong commitment to building a more equitable national economy from the start of their leadership. Various strategic policies have been implemented to ensure the welfare of the people, including those in border areas. The main focus has been on the agricultural, electricity, and education sectors as key pillars of sustainable development.
One of the concrete steps taken in the first 100 days was the acceleration of food self-sufficiency. Prabowo Subianto targets Indonesia to achieve full food self-sufficiency by 2025.
Dwi Andreas Santosa, Professor and Head of the Biotechnology Center at IPB University, assessed that this is not an easy task considering the high dependence on food imports over the last decade. However, rice self-sufficiency is seen as a realistic goal, especially with a significant increase in rice stocks at the beginning of 2025.
The abundant rice production at the start of this year is believed to be a strong foundation for achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2025. However, if domestic production does not significantly increase, dependence on imports may reemerge in the following years.
This challenge must be addressed through policies focused on increasing food production in a sustainable manner. The government has also started to boost the agricultural sector through agricultural technology innovations and support programs for farmers to improve crop productivity.
In addition to agriculture, the Prabowo-Gibran administration has given serious attention to energy security. During the first 100 days, 37 electricity projects were inaugurated, including the construction of power plants, transmission lines, and substations in 18 provinces.
These projects are strategic steps to ensure the equitable distribution of electricity for industries and communities in remote areas. The presence of adequate electricity infrastructure will accelerate regional economic growth, particularly in areas that previously struggled with stable energy access.
President Prabowo emphasized that the development of electricity infrastructure plays a crucial role in achieving energy self-sufficiency and supporting national industrial growth.
With the new power generation capacity already operational, reaching 3,222.75 MW, the electricity supply for the industrial sector is more assured. In addition, the potential for new and renewable energy (EBT) continues to be developed to ensure reliable, clean, and affordable electricity. The government is also preparing incentives for investors in the renewable energy sector to expedite the energy transition.
The transformation towards industrialization and downstream processing has become a top priority in the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s strategy. Energy independence is a vital factor in realizing this vision.
Therefore, policies that support the processing of domestic natural resources are continuously strengthened to enhance economic value-added and create more job opportunities.
The sustainability of industries based on local resources is further supported by regulations ensuring that domestic raw materials can be optimally utilized to boost national industry competitiveness.
In the education sector, ensuring equitable access for communities in border areas has also been a key priority. The “Sekolah Rakyat” (People’s School) program initiated by President Prabowo has received high praise as a concrete solution to address the educational gaps in Indonesia’s remote regions.
Akhmad, Head of the Education Office in Nunukan Regency, believes that this program is highly relevant in providing learning opportunities for children from low-income families, especially those living in the Indonesia-Malaysia border areas. The establishment of quality schools in border regions is expected to address the lack of educational facilities in remote areas.
The Sekolah Rakyat is designed to function like a boarding school, offering free quality education while also ensuring the students’ nutritional needs are met.
This school initiative is expected to have a positive impact on improving the quality of human resources, enabling students to contribute to national development in the future. Additionally, efforts to strengthen the vocational-based curriculum in schools in border areas are also underway to ensure graduates possess skills that are directly applicable in the workforce.
The Prabowo-Gibran administration has shown its seriousness in achieving economic equality across all layers of society. The strategic steps taken during the first 100 days reflect a strong commitment to building an independent and highly competitive Indonesia.
With synergy between the food, energy, and education sectors, the future of a more inclusive national economy is becoming increasingly tangible. This seriousness is not only reflected in policies but also in tangible implementations that have been felt by the wider public, including in areas that have not received full attention from previous governments. (*)
*) The author is a contributor to Yudistira Institute.
