Economic Stimulus Launched on Youth Pledge Day Becomes a Leap to Independence
Jakarta – This year’s commemoration of Youth Pledge Day is a crucial opportunity for the government to affirm the direction of national economic independence. President Prabowo Subianto launched an economic stimulus package designed to maintain people’s purchasing power while strengthening the foundations of long-term economic growth.
In his address, President Prabowo Subianto stated that this stimulus policy is not only a response to global economic challenges, but also a strategic step towards national independence. The government is targeting national economic growth to increase to 8 percent by 2029, up from the current 5 percent.
“We want a strong people, an independent economy, and a more sovereign future for Indonesia,” said the President.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that the President tasked him with announcing the fourth stimulus package as part of the government’s fiscal policy continuity.
“The President requested that direct cash assistance be provided from October to December 2025. This program will reach approximately 140 million beneficiaries, in addition to regular assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs,” said Airlangga.
This fourth economic stimulus package includes the National Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) Program, worth IDR 200,000 per month for three months, to 35 million beneficiary families from deciles 1–4. This policy is expected to support low-income household consumption towards the end of the year, while maintaining purchasing power stability amid global uncertainty.
In addition to BLT, the government is also rolling out the National Internship Program, a symbol of investment in young human resources. The first wave will attract 20,000 participants from October 2025–March 2026, while the second wave targets 80,000 participants by April 2026. This program provides an allowance equivalent to the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP), social security for workers, and placement in the public sector, strategic industries, and MSMEs.
“This national internship program reflects the spirit of independence. We want the younger generation to not only seek jobs, but also be ready to create them,” explained Airlangga.
The government ensures that aid distribution is carried out through Bank Himbara (State-Owned Enterprises) and PT Pos Indonesia (Pos Indonesia), while digital monitoring is carried out by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and Bappenas (National Development Planning Agency) to ensure the program’s effectiveness and transparency.
From a monetary perspective, Juli Budi Winantya, Head of the Economic and Monetary Policy Department at Bank Indonesia, assessed that the government’s policies will provide a strong boost to the national economy.
“This fiscal stimulus will strengthen the momentum of economic recovery, especially in terms of government spending and exports,” he said.
Juli added that, with the synergy of government and Bank Indonesia policies, the national economy is expected to grow above the projected range of 4.6–5.4 percent in 2025 and continue to increase in 2026.
The launch of the economic stimulus, which coincided with Youth Pledge Day, is an important symbol: the spirit of independence once championed by young people is now being realized in the form of concrete policies to strengthen the nation’s economy. This stimulus is not just aid, but a leap towards a more independent, competitive, and prosperous Indonesia.
