Prabowo Bets on $44 Billion Industrial Push to Escape "Impossible Nation" Trap

BOGOR, Indonesia — President Prabowo Subianto on Monday unveiled a sweeping vision for the Indonesian economy, anchoring his administration’s “Indonesia Gold 2045” goals on a massive $39.5 billion, equal to Rp 618 trillion, industrial downstreaming initiative.

In a marathon address at the 2026 National Coordination Meeting in Sentul, the President detailed a 18-project priority list designed to pivot the archipelago from a raw-material exporter to a manufacturing powerhouse. The projects target critical sectors including aluminum smelters, coal gasification, and "miracle crop" palm oil derivatives such as bio-aviation fuel.

"We will no longer go abroad begging for investment," Prabowo told an audience of 4,000 regional leaders. "We are inviting them, but we have the capability now. We must process our own resources."

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A "War on Trash" and Urban Decay

Beyond industrial policy, Prabowo introduced a populist environmental campaign titled "Indonesia ASRI" (Safe, Healthy, Clean, and Beautiful). Framing the nation’s waste crisis as a national security threat, the President declared "war on trash," warning that the country’s landfills are on track to overflow by 2028.

The President mandated that ministers lead 30-minute daily clean-up sessions at their respective agencies before the workday begins. To address the root of the crisis, the administration is green-lighting 34 waste-to-energy plants worth $3.5 billion.

In an unusual move for a head of state, Prabowo also took aim at the nation’s aesthetics, specifically targeting the prevalence of rusted zinc roofing and cluttered commercial billboards. He announced a nationwide "The National Tiling Initiative", a project to replace corrugated metal with locally produced clay tiles—some of which will utilize coal-waste byproducts.

"Rusted metal is a symbol of degeneration," Prabowo said, ordering regional governors to negotiate with business associations like the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) and the Indonesian Young Entrepreneur Association (Hipmi) to clear street protocols of intrusive advertisements.

"Turists do not come to Bali to see Kentucky Fried Chicken or McDonald’s signs on every corner."

Strategic Autonomy and Social Welfare

Addressing the global stage, Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s "free and active" non-aligned foreign policy. Despite acknowledging rising fears of a "nuclear winter" discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he explicitly rejected entry into any military pacts.

Domestically, the President doubled down on his signature "Free Nutritious Meals" (MBG) program. He claimed the initiative has already generated one million jobs through more than 22,000 active service kitchens. By the time the program reaches its target of 82.9 million beneficiaries in late 2026, the administration predicts the creation of up to 5 million new jobs.

The President concluded with a sharp critique of economic euphemisms, urging officials to stop using terms like "aspiring middle class" or "pre-prosperous" to mask the reality of poverty. "If they are poor, they are poor. We must not be afraid to speak the truth if we are to fix it."