The government aims to raise Indonesia's economic growth rate to the targeted 8 percent despite skepticism from some foreign parties, President Prabowo Subianto said.
Speaking at the National Conference on the 2025–2029 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) in Jakarta on Monday, he claimed that some foreigners, who underestimated his government, promised to buy him dinner if he achieved his goal.
"I have been challenged by some international parties. They are convinced that our economic growth rate cannot reach 8 percent," Prabowo stated.
"They spoke about treating me to dinner if we eventually manage to achieve the desired 8 percent," he said, adding that the challengers even promised him the privilege of ordering the most expensive dishes.
Prabowo then expressed his optimism about achieving the growth target by citing a famous saying by Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, popularly known as Bung Karno.
"Bung Karno once told us to set our goals as high as the skies because even if we fail, we will land among the stars. This saying was essentially meant to motivate us," he told the audience.
The conference was attended by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and several cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
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Translator: Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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