Prabowo tells global investors Indonesia no longer a "sleeping giant"

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto told top global investors that Indonesia is no longer a “sleeping giant,” declaring the country ready to accelerate growth and deepen partnerships as it seeks to attract more foreign capital. 

Prabowo made the remarks while opening a meeting with executives from 12 of the world’s largest investment firms in Washington on Friday, part of his working visit to the United States. 

“For years Indonesia was known as a sleeping giant. We’re not sleeping anymore. Now is the time to rise together and develop our economy,” Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said, quoting the president after the session. 

Rosan, who is also chief executive officer of Danantara, said investors praised Prabowo’s policy direction, saying recent measures have elevated Indonesia’s standing in global investment portfolios. 

“They said the president’s policies have made Indonesia appear bigger and more significant,” Rosan told reporters. 

Danantara Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir said investors welcomed Prabowo’s commitment to strengthening legal systems and regulatory certainty, which they see as foundations for long-term capital allocation. 

They also applauded the creation of Danantara, Indonesia’s sovereign investment vehicle, viewing it as a potential strategic partner similar to sovereign wealth funds they collaborate with globally. 

“Many of them want to begin investing through partnerships, using Danantara as a potential local partner,” Pandu said. 

The 12 firms represented at the meeting collectively manage about US$16 trillion in assets, underscoring the scale of capital Indonesia is seeking to tap. 

Prabowo outlined his administration’s economic priorities, including improving the investment climate, maintaining macroeconomic stability and ensuring legal certainty to support sustainable growth. 

The president also held one-on-one discussions with each executive to explore potential cooperation in greater detail, officials said. 

Accompanying Prabowo were Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce Chairman Anindya Bakrie. 

Indonesia has been courting global institutional investors to diversify funding sources and reduce reliance on domestic financing as Southeast Asia’s largest economy pushes industrial downstreaming and infrastructure expansion.