PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – President-elect Prabowo Subianto has pledged to achieve food and energy self-sufficiency within the next five years. In his speech at the closing of the Partai Amanat Nasional congress on Sunday, August 25, 2024, Prabowo outlined his vision to make Indonesia a world-class food producer and a net exporter of agricultural products.
“We will be the world’s food barn,” he asserted, as reported by Palmoilmagazine.com. Prabowo stressed that Indonesia will swiftly achieve food self-sufficiency, eliminating the need for food imports.
In addition to food security, Prabowo highlighted the importance of energy independence. He stated that Indonesia should no longer import diesel, as the country will rely on biodiesel produced from palm oil.
Also Read: EU Boycott Palm Oil, Prabowo Subianto: We’ll Utilize it for Biodiesel
“Fuel would be from palm oil called biodiesel. We have realized biodiesel mandatory program up to 35 percent or B35 and would be accelerated to be B50,” he said.
He predicted by having B50, Indonesia would save billions of dollars every year. The numbers were used to get fuel imports in this country. “Rp 300 trillion would be around Indonesia,” he mentioned.
He also quoted some reports from some professors in Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) that mentioned Indonesia would be able to produce palm oil gasoline. This would confirm Indonesia as the biggest palm oil producer in the world.
Prabowo told his experience when meeting the President of French, Emmanuel Macron some time ago. He said that palm oil from Indonesia would be rejected by European Union. “Europe would not purchase our palm oil. We have to be grateful. I just said to President Macron that if European Union would ban palm oil from Indonesia, we would use it as the source of our energy,” he firmly said.
Also Read: Palm Oil Governance Should be Improved in the Era of President Prabowo Subianto
He thought, the key to realize the strong country would be by confirming food and energy security. “A country would be safe if we secure our food and energy. Indonesia should be fearless about currency fluctuation if our food and energy are guaranteed,” he said.
In his closing speech, Prabowo mentioned his optimism that Indonesia would be prosperous in the future but it needs to be aware of the foreign powers that do not want Indonesia as the strong, safe, and prosperous country. “Indonesia would be prosperous but be aware always. Do not want to get conflicts,” Prabowo said to the people of Indonesia. (P2)
