New York, Sept. 23, 2025 — In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Prabowo Subianto announced that Indonesia has reached a milestone in food security, declaring the country self-sufficient in rice and beginning exports to other nations.
"We are now self-sufficient in rice, and we have started exporting to countries in need, including Palestine," Mr. Prabowo told world leaders, framing the achievement as a sign of Indonesia's emergence as a global food power. The president said Indonesia is pursuing resilient supply chains, higher farm productivity and climate-smart agriculture to sustain its progress. "In the years ahead, we are confident that Indonesia will become a new food for the world," he said.
Mr Prabowo also drew attention to the mounting threats of climate change, noting that rising seas are already reshaping his country's coastlines.
"The sea level on the northern coast of our capital rises five centimeters every year," he warned. "Can you imagine in 10 years? In 20 years? We are forced to build a massive 480-kilometer sea wall. It may take 20 years, but we must start now."
Reaffirming Indonesia's commitments under the Paris climate accord, he pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner, expand reforestation across 12 million hectares of degraded land, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Beginning next year, he said, most of Indonesia's new power capacity will be drawn from renewable sources.
"Our goal is clear," he concluded. "To lift our citizens out of poverty and to make Indonesia a hub for global solutions in food, energy and water security."

Source: The Nusantara Times, September 24, 2025