Economists Consider Positive Trade Balance and Declining Unemployment as Prabowo-Gibran’s One-Year Achievements
Jakarta – Entering the first year of the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, various positive achievements in the economic and public welfare sectors have garnered praise from national economists. Several key indicators show significant improvements, from the trade balance to the decline in unemployment and poverty rates.
Economist at the Great Institute and Professor of Economics and Business at YARSI University, Prof. Dr. Perdana Wahyu, assessed the national economic performance over the past year as extraordinary. “In terms of the trade balance, this year through September, growth has been quite high, around 45.8 percent from January to September 2025,” he said.
He also highlighted the government’s success in significantly reducing unemployment. “As of February 2025, the unemployment rate had dropped to 4.76 percent. It will likely drop further now that the Free Nutritious Meals program is running, internship programs have been implemented, and Village Cooperatives have been activated. Many programs have helped reduce the unemployment rate,” he explained in a dialogue on a private television station on Friday (10/17).
According to Prof. Perdana, another achievement worthy of appreciation is the decline in the poverty rate to 8.47 percent as of March 2025. He emphasized, “This is the lowest poverty rate since the 1998 crisis, indicating that Indonesia’s fight against poverty has reached its peak.” Furthermore, he described economic growth of 5.12 percent as an achievement that exceeded many expectations. “This growth is extraordinary, even sparking debate among economists because it was beyond expectations,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Economist Drajad Wibowo also expressed his appreciation for the direction of the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s economic policies. He considered the food self-sufficiency program a crucial milestone in strengthening national food security. “The government’s deregulation has made it easier for farmers to obtain subsidized fertilizer. Previously cumbersome regulations have now been simplified, allowing for faster and more targeted distribution,” he explained.
Furthermore, Drajad assessed that the government’s policy of prioritizing women’s economic empowerment has also had a positive impact. “As many as 15 million female customers now have access to financing to start and develop businesses. This strengthens the family economic structure and encourages the growth of women entrepreneurs in various regions,” he said.
He added that the people’s economy continues to grow thanks to the synergy of priority programs such as the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), the national internship program, and the Red and White Village Cooperative. “The Free Nutritious Meal Program has even been proven to stimulate economic activity in the food and MSME sectors. When the budget was increased, demand for food items such as eggs increased rapidly, and the government quickly responded by establishing village business groups that raise laying hens,” he explained.
Drajad emphasized that the government has succeeded in maintaining a balance between macroeconomic stability and strengthening the people’s economy. “The food self-sufficiency policy, MBG, and the Red and White Village Cooperative are driving the sustainable economic livelihoods of the community,” he concluded.
These achievements demonstrate that in its first year, the Prabowo-Gibran administration has not only maintained economic stability but also achieved growth that favors the common people—a strong foundation for national economic independence.
