Indonesia’s Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto emphasized the critical role of direct engagement between national leaders in securing favorable economic outcomes, particularly in trade and investment negotiations.
Prabowo Highlights Importance of Head-of-State Involvement in Economic Talks
Prabowo stated that direct presence of a head of state is often a decisive factor in economic negotiations. He explained that negotiations frequently stall at the technical level, requiring strategic decisions made through direct communication between leaders.
“Sometimes in negotiations, they always say they need to report to their top leader. There are important matters that must be discussed directly between the heads of state,” Prabowo said.
He cited Indonesia’s success in gaining access to the European Union (EU) and Canadian markets as examples of the benefits of this approach. These economic cooperation schemes have resulted in zero tariffs for key Indonesian exports like textiles and footwear, reversing previous trade barriers.
Without direct intervention at the head-of-state level, Prabowo believes Indonesia’s manufacturing sector would have faced significant challenges. “Our shoes and textiles were once under threat, but now we have secured alternatives. If I had not gone directly to meet the King of Belgium, the King of the Netherlands, or EU leaders, we might not have broken through,” he said.
Prabowo also noted that the increasing frequency of such visits reflects a shifting global landscape where economic strength is paramount. “If our economy is strong, we cannot be pushed around,” he added.
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