2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's Prabowo touts economic wins in defiant first state of the nation address
Indonesia 's President Prabowo Subianto has used his first state of the nation address to spotlight the country's economic resilience and independent foreign policy, striking a defiant tone against colonial legacies and geopolitical rivalry while positioning himself as a reformer at home.
In a wide-ranging speech before the People's Consultative Assembly on Friday, the 73-year-old leader – inaugurated last October – pointed to second-quarter growth of 5.12 per cent as a sign of the economy's robustness despite 'global political tension and trade war'.
Prabowo also emphasised his government's approach to diplomacy, praising Indonesia's growing ties with both developing and Western powers.
'Indonesia was the guest of honour at the independence celebrations of India and France,' he said. 'We completed the EU [Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement] trade negotiations, and [a trade deal] with the
United States .'
