The former army general has already claimed an early “victory”, declaring that Indonesia achieved rice self-sufficiency just over a year after he took office in October 2024. The government claims the country imported zero rice in 2025, a sharp break from years of reliance on major exporters such as Vietnam, Thailand and India.

This is not Indonesia’s first romance with the concept of swasembada pangan (food self-sufficiency). Back in 1984, President Soeharto, then Prabowo’s father-in-law, achieved rice self-sufficiency after years of being one of the world's largest importers. This achievement was recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1985, a moment of immense national pride.

However, by the 1990s, rapid industrialization converted fertile farmland into factories and housing, while the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1998 forced Indonesia back into the global market to feed its population.

Prabowo’s declaration, therefore, carries the weight of historical redemption, but also the shadow of past failures. Broader food policies mirror this renewed trend. Beef import quotas for private companies have been slashed from 180,000 tonnes last year to just 30,000 tonnes in 2026, even as industry players warn that domestic demand is outpacing local supply.

Energy constitutes the second pillar of this drive, anchored by the inauguration of Pertamina’s Balikpapan refinery in East Kalimantan. The facility underwent a US$7.4 billion upgrade to become the largest in the country. Combined with Indonesia’s biofuel mandate, blending diesel with palm oil and gasoline with ethanol, the expansion aims to significantly undercut the need for fuel imports.

The impact of this pivot is already tangible. Last year, the government capped gasoline imports and refused to allow private fuel retailers such as Shell, BP and Vivo to bring in additional supplies even when their stocks ran low. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has since gone further, announcing plans to halt diesel imports this year and phase out jet fuel imports by 2027.