Prabowo said he was optimistic that conditions for Indonesians in the lowest income groups, classified as deciles 1 and 2, could improve through sustained government efforts and appropriate policies.
"We can eliminate extreme poverty in Indonesia," he said during the inauguration of 166 Sekolah Rakyat (People's School) across 34 provinces in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.
Deciles 1 and 2 represent the poorest 20 percent of the population and are the main targets of government social assistance programs due to their vulnerability to economic inequality and social shocks.
Prabowo described the poverty eradication target as realistic, citing progress made so far, and urged Indonesians to remain confident while staying humble.
"We are not being arrogant or boasting, but we must be proud of our achievements. At the same time, we must remain a humble nation," he said.
The president said Indonesia has vast potential and natural wealth to improve public welfare, despite past shortcomings in governance and resource management.
He also expressed gratitude that Indonesia remains resilient amid ongoing global geoeconomic and political uncertainty.
"In the midst of global turmoil and uncertainty, we are grateful that our country remains in good condition," Prabowo said.
He added that the government has begun to see tangible results over the past six months, particularly in improving conditions for the younger generation and vulnerable communities.
He called on all Indonesians to work together to eradicate poverty and hunger and improve living standards nationwide.
Statistics Indonesia reported that the country's extreme poverty rate fell to 0.85 percent in March 2025 from 1.26 percent a year earlier.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia G P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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