Steve Forbes Invites President Prabowo Subianto to Address 2025 Forbes Global CEO Conference in Jakarta

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Jr., widely known as Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the world-renowned Forbes business magazine, has extended an official invitation to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to speak at the upcoming Forbes Global CEO Conference, scheduled to take place in Jakarta on October 14–15, 2025.

The invitation was delivered in person during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, where Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani accompanied President Prabowo. The meeting lasted nearly two hours and covered a wide range of topics, including economics, investment, trade, and bilateral Indonesia-U.S. relations.

“Forbes is planning to hold the CEO Global Forum again on October 14–15, 2025, and President Prabowo Subianto has been invited to speak directly before more than 400 CEOs and leading global figures. Steve Forbes himself conveyed this plan directly to President Prabowo,” Minister Roeslani confirmed in an official statement.

Steve Forbes, a U.S. citizen residing in New Jersey, flew to Jakarta specifically to extend the formal invitation, underscoring the significance of Indonesia’s emerging global role and President Prabowo’s leadership.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Forbes expressed deep admiration for Indonesia’s trajectory under President Prabowo. “The progress Indonesia has made — and more importantly, is poised to achieve — will be of great significance to the global community. The policies your president is formulating are truly inspiring,” Forbes stated.

He emphasized that President Prabowo’s deregulation initiatives have significantly enhanced the nation’s investment climate, with noticeable improvements in agricultural productivity and efforts to combat corruption.

“He has made remarkable progress in deregulation. Agricultural output is rising, and there is an active fight against corruption, which makes doing business in Indonesia smoother and easier,” Forbes remarked.

Reflecting on Indonesia’s democratic evolution since the late 1990s, Forbes noted that the country is now on a strong upward trajectory:
“It is like a rocket slowly lifting off and then surging forward. We see Indonesia as a rocket moving at full speed, eliminating business barriers and enabling its people to improve their quality of life.”

He added that Indonesia’s continued advancement, particularly under President Prabowo’s administration, will make it a model of inspiration not only for Asia but for the global community.

Jakarta last hosted the Forbes Global CEO Forum in 2016. The upcoming 2025 conference marks a renewed global spotlight on Indonesia’s economic leadership and regional influence.