Qodari: Prabowo ensured domestic issues were addressed before traveling abroad

Before traveling to Russia, President Prabowo Subianto made sure Indonesia’s domestic problems were being handled, government communications chief Muhammad Qodari said. Those problems included basic-goods prices, employment, natural disasters and forest and land fires in several regions.

Qodari pointed to a series of visits in August. On Aug. 22, Prabowo traveled to West Kalimantan, held a limited meeting with ministers, agency heads and local officials, and inspected the response to the fires. He then went to Central Kalimantan to review and lead the response.

Two days later, on Aug. 24, Prabowo visited Riau and Palembang to lead meetings and check that efforts to address the fires were progressing. On Aug. 26, he traveled to Nagekeo regency in East Nusa Tenggara to see conditions among communities affected by an earthquake and ensure that aid and post-disaster measures were working properly.

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That is why, before making overseas visits, President Prabowo always first makes sure that all domestic problems have been handled properly.

Qodari said the visits showed that domestic issues remained a presidential priority even as the government pursued international diplomacy. He acknowledged that the public had questioned the direct benefit of Prabowo’s recent trip to Russia, given the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara and fires in several provinces.

He said the president viewed every overseas visit as a way to seek solutions, open economic opportunities and bring tangible benefits back to Indonesia. Qodari linked expanded diplomatic opportunities to potential investment, job creation, stronger national industry and greater economic resilience.

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For President Prabowo, every overseas visit is always directed as part of an effort to seek solutions, open economic opportunities and bring tangible benefits back to Indonesia.