Indonesia Is Ready to Feed and Power the World

Indonesia’s Independence Day is traditionally marked by solemn reflections and patriotic celebration. Yet almost eight decades after the proclamation of 1945, it is time to recognize that the meaning of our independence has evolved. It is no longer simply a testament to what we overcame in the past, but a declaration of what Indonesia intends to contribute to the future.

Our nation today stands at the convergence of three strategic capacities: abundant natural capital, a rapidly expanding middle class, and a growing knowledge base. Together, these assets position Indonesia not merely as an emerging economy, but as a future provider of global public goods, most notably sustainable food and renewable energy.

This is not a matter of aspiration. It is a matter of timely responsibility.

Feeding a Growing World: Indonesia and Global Protein Security

The world is approaching a demographic milestone. By 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, with food demand projected to grow by at least 60–70% (FAO). Global protein consumption is expected to rise even faster, by 70% under current baseline scenarios.

Indonesia is uniquely placed to help meet this rising demand:

• Marine biodiversity: #1 in the world (over 37% of global fish species)
• Tropical arable land: #2 in the world
• Annual fish production (2023): ≈ 25 million tons
• Estimated sustainable potential: ≈ 80 million tons (FAO/KKP)

Unlike many industrialised countries already operating at, or well above, sustainable capacity limits, Indonesia still maintains significant upside potential in both capture fisheries (particularly EEZ zones) and aquaculture. Because of its geography, the country is able to operate year-round cultivation cycles and produce both animal and marine protein at significantly lower natural carbon intensity.

However, to deliver on this potential, we are not simply seeking to expand output. Indonesia is investing in traceability systems, biosecurity, and harmonisation of export standards, so that supply growth is paired with quality, sustainability and global regulatory compatibility.

This is a deliberate policy approach: we do not aspire to be the world’s largest protein supplier in volume alone. We intend to become the most reliable and responsible supplier, in line with rising consumer expectations and ESG-based procurement by international buyers.

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A Renewable Energy Anchor in the Indo-Pacific

The global electricity market is undergoing a profound transition. According to the International Energy Agency, annual electricity demand worldwide will increase from 23,000 TWh today to over 30,000 TWh by 2030. At the same time, global renewable capacity will need to triple by 2030 to meet climate targets.

Indonesia has both the scale and the diversity of natural resources to serve as a regional anchor in this transition:

• Solar: 207 GWp
• Wind: 95 GW
• Ocean currents & tidal: 60 GW
• Geothermal: 29 GW (largest in the world)

Today, we utilize less than 12% of this potential. The policy implication is clear: Indonesia is not a marginal renewable player, it is a future energy hub.

This is no longer theoretical. Indonesia has entered advanced discussions on cross-border power exchange, and ASEAN has officially endorsed the creation of the ASEAN Power Grid. As undersea transmission technology becomes more cost-efficient, Indonesia is developing the regulatory and technical architecture that will allow electricity exports to neighbouring countries in the next decade.

We recognise that energy is no longer a purely domestic matter. It is regional security. It is climate sustainability. It is shared resilience. Indonesia therefore approaches its energy development not in isolation, but as an integral contributor to Indo-Pacific energy stability.

A Knowledge-Based Middle Class: The Strategic Enabler

Natural resources alone do not create global solutions. Human capital does.

Indonesia today has:

• 280 million people, of which more than 50% are under the age of 30
• A projected 135 million middle-class citizens by 2040 (World Bank)
• Over 50,000 Indonesian students currently pursuing university degrees overseas

The Indonesian middle class is not merely a consumption class. It is increasingly a globally connected, digitally oriented knowledge class bringing home not just degrees, but networks, standards and ideas. This demographic transformation is central to Indonesia’s trajectory in the coming decades.

A broadening knowledge base enables better stewardship of our biodiversity, more sophisticated management of renewable resources, and the development of technology-enabled value-added industries. It also anchors the democratic legitimacy of long-term strategic policy.

That is why the Indonesian Government has placed such emphasis on digitalisation, STEM education, and international partnerships. The resources needed to feed and power the world must be matched by the capabilities to do so ethically, efficiently and transparently.

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Independence as International Responsibility

When Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945, the founders called for “a free and united nation.” Today, we understand freedom not merely as sovereignty, but as responsibility, a responsibility to use the resources we have been given for the benefit of a wider international community.

Our strategic message to the world is therefore clear:

• Indonesia does not seek to dominate, but to contribute.
• We are ready to be a trusted partner in global food security.
• We are ready to become a sustainable power hub for the Indo-Pacific.
• We are building a knowledge-driven economy anchored in openness and shared prosperity.

As we mark another year of independence, Indonesia’s message is not inward-looking. It is a statement of readiness to engage, with goodwill, with partnership, and with purpose.