Prabowo Awards Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana to Economist Burhanuddin Abdullah
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday awarded the Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana honorary medal to senior economist Burhanuddin Abdullah during a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta.
The award, one of the nation’s highest honors, was conferred in recognition of Burhanuddin’s significant contributions to maintaining monetary stability and strengthening the international banking system.
Widely respected as a leading figure in Indonesia’s economic policy, Burhanuddin currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the Prasasti Center for Policy Studies. He previously held the position of Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) from 2003 to 2008, during which he led strategic initiatives that shaped the country’s financial resilience.
This is the second Bintang Mahaputera honor he has received. In 2007, while serving as BI Governor, Burhanuddin was awarded the Bintang Mahaputera Utama by then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. That same year, he was internationally recognized by Global Finance magazine as one of the world’s five best central bankers, lauded for his success in steering Indonesia’s central bank and maintaining macroeconomic stability.
One of Burhanuddin’s most notable achievements was his decisive role in leading Indonesia to fully repay its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ahead of schedule. In October 2006, he announced that Indonesia had completed its repayments—originally due in 2010—three years early, following installments totaling nearly US$7 billion. This historic move strengthened Indonesia’s fiscal independence and bolstered national economic sovereignty.
At Monday’s ceremony, President Prabowo also conferred state honors on 141 individuals from various sectors. In his remarks, he expressed deep gratitude for their service, stating:
“On behalf of the nation and the Republic of Indonesia, I express my gratitude for your service and dedication. May your contributions become a legacy for future generations.”
