Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto called on Indonesia’s political and business leaders to strengthen cooperation as the government seeks to bolster economic resilience and accelerate growth, during a meeting with the country’s largest business organization on Friday.

Prabowo met with Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie, around 150 representatives from Kadin’s provincial chapters across all 38 provinces and leaders of about 30 business associations at the State Palace in Jakarta.

“Every successful nation has elites who can work together. Every failed country has elites who are constantly fighting,” Prabowo said during the meeting.

Prabowo said the term “elite” extended beyond political leaders to include businesspeople, intellectuals, religious figures, cultural and artistic leaders, producers and workers. Cooperation among those groups, he said, was essential to maintaining national stability and advancing development.

“I am very pleased that from the beginning, you have shown that you want to work together for the good of the nation and state,” Prabowo said.

The meeting covered a range of economic priorities, including food self-sufficiency, tax policy, infrastructure development, international trade, regional economic potential and the use of artificial intelligence to improve business efficiency.

Kadin’s Anindya said they also discussed the need to strengthen national food security and self-sufficiency, as well as taxation issues ranging from broader tax regulations to cigarette taxes.

Infrastructure was another key issue, with discussions covering the acceleration of development and repairs of airports, ports and bridges across the country. Kadin also raised the potential use of Buton asphalt from Southeast Sulawesi and the adoption of artificial intelligence to improve business efficiency.

Kadin also reported on its contribution to four government priority programs: the free nutritious meals program, free health screenings, protection and skills development for Indonesian migrant workers, and the renovation of uninhabitable homes.

The chamber has contributed to 866 kitchens supporting the free meals program, including 128 in Indonesia’s frontier, outermost and disadvantaged regions. It has also prepared certification and training programs for 208,000 migrant workers and supported the government’s three-million-home housing initiative.

On economic diplomacy, Kadin has established a Global Engagement Office to help businesses capitalize on trade and economic partnership agreements, while connecting investment and industrialization opportunities with regional Kadin chapters and business associations.

Kadin has also introduced “We Buy From Indonesia,” a technology and trade platform showcasing Indonesian products that have entered global supply chains. The initiative aims to expand markets for domestic products and strengthen the capacity of Indonesian producers.

Anindya said the business community remained optimistic despite global economic uncertainty and would continue working with the government to support President Prabowo’s target of raising economic growth to 8%.

“Indonesia’s economy has grown at around 5% for 20 years. But we know that to move up and escape the middle-income trap, we must gradually move toward 8%,” Anindya said. “We believe that if we work together, this is something that can be achieved.”

Prabowo, meanwhile, said economic development must begin with meeting people’s basic needs, particularly food security.

“Nation-building is a major undertaking, and the most crucial foundation is the economy. The issue of people’s stomachs is the most basic economic issue,” Prabowo said, stressing that food security had been a fundamental challenge for societies for thousands of years.

Kadin, which is mandated by law as the umbrella organization representing Indonesian businesses, has positioned itself as a strategic government partner in implementing the administration’s economic agenda.

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