Prabowo Targets 8% Growth with Massive Job Creation Drive

TheIndonesia.co - President Prabowo Subianto is targeting Indonesia’s economic growth to reach 8%, with job creation at the centre of his strategy.

A series of government programmes have been rolled out to expand employment opportunities, including the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) initiative, the Red and White Village Cooperatives, the Red and White Fishermen Villages, and a plan to build one million homes.

Prabowo highlighted the significant employment potential of the MBG programme. At its peak, the initiative is expected to operate around 30,000 kitchens, each employing approximately 50 workers.

“That alone accounts for 1.5 million jobs,” Prabowo said, as quoted on Sunday (22 March 2026).

Beyond direct employment, each kitchen is also expected to rely on supply chains involving food vendors, potentially creating an additional 1.5 million jobs.

The government is also banking on the Red and White Village Cooperatives to drive rural economic growth. With a target of 80,000 cooperatives, each employing around 18 people, the programme could generate up to 1.4 million new jobs.

In the maritime sector, the Red and White Fishermen Villages programme aims to boost productivity and improve the welfare of fishing communities. The government plans to develop up to 1,100 such villages by 2026.

“We have launched a pilot project in Biak, where fishermen’s incomes have increased by an average of 60% to 80%,” Prabowo said.

He added that the programme is not only improving incomes but also stimulating regional economic growth.

Meanwhile, the one million housing programme is expected to be one of the largest drivers of employment. Each housing unit is estimated to involve five workers, potentially creating up to 5 million jobs, excluding multiplier effects in supporting industries such as construction materials and utilities.

Prabowo expressed confidence that the combined impact of these programmes would serve as a major engine for the national economy.

“I am confident that once these are fully implemented, growth will exceed 8%,” he said.