President-elect Prabowo Subianto has pledged to eliminate poverty in Indonesia once he officially assumes office, citing measures to accelerate the downstream processing of the nation’s natural resources that would directly benefit the people.
“I have received a mandate from the people of Indonesia with the primary goal of eradicating poverty from this nation,” Prabowo told the opening of the National Conference of Relawan Pengusaha Muda Nasional (Repnas) in Jakarta on Monday, October 14, 2024.
Prabowo emphasized that, with the presidential mandate, he would safeguard and manage the country’s wealth so that it could be distributed fairly among all citizens.
He called upon entrepreneurs from Repnas to collaborate in building a future economy that fosters positive growth.
“We must manage our wealth wisely, ensuring that our children eat nutritious food every day. This requires strong cooperation to guarantee a better, more prosperous, and more just life for our people. There should be no more poverty in Indonesia,” Prabowo said.
Repnas chairman Anggawira expressed the organization’s commitment to supporting the government in creating job opportunities over the next five years.
He further emphasized Repnas’ dedication to strengthening local economies and contributing to an eight-percent growth in Indonesia’s economy.
“In the next five years under the leadership of Prabowo-Gibran, Repnas will continue to empower young entrepreneurs, create jobs, and strengthen regional economies, while also helping Indonesia achieve self-reliance in food and energy,” Anggawira said.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy noted that Indonesia’s extreme poverty rate has seen a significant decline, dropping from 4 percent to an estimated 0.8 percent over the past decade.
“We are awaiting the results of the September survey, and it could potentially be even lower than 0.8 percent,” Muhadjir said.
