Building Domestic Economic Resilience

Indonesia’s economic resilience came under scrutiny as about 100 economists gathered at Jakarta’s Grand Ballroom Kempinski Hotel on Sept. 3, 2026. The forum, organized by Metro TV and the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, focused on how the country can navigate global turbulence while protecting its national economy.

The meeting’s theme, “Sailing Through Global Waves, Maintaining National Economic Resilience,” reflected the pressures facing Indonesia. Geopolitical uncertainty, volatile energy and commodity prices, shifts in global monetary policy and trade fragmentation continue to weigh on economic stability, despite government efforts such as holding the benchmark interest rate and expanding global funding sources.

The commentary questions the government’s frequent pride in economic growth that remains stable at around 5%. On paper, that performance compares favorably with developed economies in Europe and the United States, where inflation and recession risks have created difficulties. But economists with a more critical view see the 5% rate as a hidden warning rather than a guarantee of strength.

To escape the middle-income trap, Indonesia would need growth of at least 6% to 7% consistently for the next two decades, the commentary argues. The government has set a target of reaching 6% growth in 2027, but the path to that goal remains a central question.

Indonesia’s current growth still depends too heavily on domestic consumption and raw commodities, according to the analysis. High coal or palm-oil prices can make the economy appear strong, but a reversal in the commodity cycle could weaken its foundations. The proposed answer is not continued reliance on natural-resource luck, but a major structural transformation to make Indonesia’s economic future more secure.