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Denying Indonesia's Dark Economy, Prabowo: BPS Reported To Me, Unemployment Rates Decline...

President Prabowo Subianto responded to negative narratives about Indonesia's economic condition. He said some were trying to portray the national economy as failing. "Efforts to make it seem like Indonesia is in trouble, Indonesia is in darkness. Indonesia's economy is failing. That, ladies and gentlemen, is an attempt to dampen our spirits, and it's not true," Prabowo said in his closing speech at the Indonesian Solidarity Party Congress on Sunday (July 21, 2025). Prabowo claimed the government had achieved several economic targets. One of these was investment realization, which he said had reached its annual target in August 2025. This claim was based on a report from the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming. "Four months before the year ends, the investment target has been achieved," Prabowo asserted. 

He also mentioned a decline in unemployment, citing a report from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). "The Head of BPS reported to me that unemployment has decreased. Absolute poverty has decreased. This is BPS. Ladies and gentlemen," Prabowo said. In his speech, Prabowo also mentioned the establishment of the Danantara Investment Management Agency. He said the agency now manages assets worth around US$1,000 billion. However, previously released BPS data showed that the number of unemployed people actually increased. 

As of February 2025, the number of unemployed people reached 7.28 million, an increase of 83,450 people compared to February 2024. "As many as 7.28 million people, or 4.76 percent of the total workforce in February 2025, were unemployed," said BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti in a press conference on Monday (May 5, 2025). BPS also recorded an increase in the total workforce of 3.67 million people compared to last year. This increase was driven by new graduates and housewives returning to look for work. 

Tag: BPS Central Statistics Agency Dark Economy Prabowo Subianto