Prabowo Subianto emphasizes data accuracy for Indonesia's economic policy

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized the importance of the 2026 Economic Census, conducted by Statistics Indonesia (BPS), as a vital tool for shaping national policy and budgeting. During a plenary session of the House of Representatives, the President noted that the census, which involves 251,000 officers, is necessary to update Indonesia’s economic activity calculations after years without rebasing. He clarified that the data is intended for macroeconomic accuracy and will not be used to track personal wealth.

The accuracy of this data is critical for the 2027 Draft State Budget (APBN). The government currently estimates Indonesia's GDP at Rp27,987 trillion, with a projected deficit of 2.40 percent of GDP. Prabowo suggested that if the GDP is larger than currently assumed, the deficit could be reduced.

In support of data-driven governance, legislator Rieke Diah Pitaloka highlighted the need for the immediate passage of the 'Satu Data Indonesia' Bill. She argued that accurate and relevant data is essential to fulfill the Red and White Cabinet’s guidelines, particularly for targeted interventions such as emergency food security.