By: Rahman Prawira )*
The government under President Prabowo Subianto continues to achieve impressive results following the launch of the investment management agency Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara), which functions as a state-owned enterprise superholding. Mandated to manage national assets worth approximately US$900 billion (approximately Rp14,700 trillion), Danantara has emerged as a new driving force in Indonesia’s modern economic architecture. Danantara’s presence is seen as strengthening Indonesia’s position as a major economic power in the region while simultaneously attracting sustainable global investment flows.
Danantara is designed not merely as an asset management entity, but as a strategic instrument for economic equality and job creation. This superholding will consolidate seven major state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including Pertamina, the State Electricity Company (PLN), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), and Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID), to create synergies between sectors through integrated and professional investments. With a transparent and globally standardized governance model, Danantara is able to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness of SOEs in the international market.
In the initial phase, Danantara obtained a funding facility of approximately US$20 billion, which will be allocated to 20 strategic projects, including strengthening renewable energy, industrial downstreaming, food security, and technology projects such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centers. This strategy is believed to create an economic multiplier effect to stimulate growth and create quality jobs in various vital sectors. More than just a symbol of financial strength, Danantara is designed as a strategic instrument to strengthen the national economy in an inclusive manner, primarily through job creation and strengthening the people’s economy.
In his latest state address at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), President Prabowo emphasized that Danantara, along with 80,000 village/sub-district cooperatives in the Red and White region, has driven the creation of millions of new, high-quality jobs while strengthening the local economy. This is realized through the distribution of household necessities such as rice, cooking oil, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and subsidized fertilizer. This innovation also opens up significant opportunities for the development of the production, distribution, and downstream sectors, thus creating a stronger and more sustainable economic ecosystem.
Through the collaboration between Danantara’s national policy and the local strength of the Merah Putih Cooperative, the government is presenting a synergistic economic model from the central government to villages, and from villages to an inclusive national economy. This synergy is a concrete symbol of the government’s commitment to building economic strength at the grassroots level, ensuring access to basic needs, and encouraging inclusive growth, thereby creating real jobs for the wider community.
The Chairman of Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mukhamad Misbakhun, emphasized that the acceleration of investment and downstreaming by Danantara will be a key driver of strengthening the national economy. This step is believed to create numerous job opportunities, particularly in the energy, food security, and fisheries sectors. Furthermore, Danantara’s presence also marks a turning point towards annual economic growth of up to 7–8 percent, thanks to massive foreign investment penetration from partners such as China, Japan, and the European Union. This undoubtedly opens up extensive job opportunities, from upstream to downstream sectors, from agriculture to renewable energy.
Budiman Sudjatmiko, Head of the Agency for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation (BP Taskin), stated that the government is working to alleviate poverty through the integration of People’s Schools, Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), and the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih). The strategy implemented by Danantara is a synergy of poverty alleviation policies, empowerment of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and village development. The combination of Danantara and the extensive network of Red and White cooperatives has created a strong grassroots economic ecosystem, strengthened distribution, and avoided market monopolies.
Meanwhile, Danantara’s institutional structure provides a strong, inclusive, and professional foundation. At the apex of the structure, President Prabowo Subianto serves as the primary advisor and person in charge. Below him is the Supervisory Board, which consists of national figures such as Erick Thohir (Chairman), Muliaman Darmansyah Hadad (Vice Chairperson), and Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and includes the Coordinating Ministers and State Secretaries as members. At the operational level, Danantara is led directly by Rosan Roeslani as CEO, who is responsible for the institution’s day-to-day running. He is assisted by Dony Oskaria as COO (Operational Holding) and Pandu Patria Sjahrir as CIO (Investment Holding). This provides Danantara with a strong foundation in implementing an inclusive and people-oriented national agenda.
Danantara, along with the Merah Putih cooperative network and social programs such as MBG and Sekolah Rakyat, presents a real opportunity for the creation of a just and equitable people’s economy. As the country enters a mature phase of economic development, this inclusive development model is the answer to the challenges of inequality and structural unemployment. With a strong commitment, Danantara will be able to set a new milestone in Indonesia’s development history by making the nation’s wealth belong to the people, creating jobs, strengthening MSMEs, empowering villages, and encouraging strong, equitable, and sustainable economic growth.
)* Government Policy Observer
