Prabowo Meets Shinawatra Family to Discuss Danantara and Economic Growth
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, at the State Palace in Jakarta to discuss bilateral cooperation and Indonesia’s new investment vehicle, Danantara. The meeting, which took place on Monday, focused on integrating regional economic interests and the strategic role of the Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) sovereign wealth fund.
### Economic Strategy and Danantara
The discussion centered on the operational framework of Danantara, the investment management body recently established by the Prabowo administration to consolidate state assets. According to official statements from the Indonesian government, the meeting explored how regional neighbors could engage with the fund to bolster capital flows and economic growth.
Danantara is designed to function as a super-holding company, managing a portfolio of state-owned enterprises to compete with international sovereign wealth funds. By inviting the Shinawatra family—who maintain significant influence in Thai politics and business—the administration is signaling an intent to attract cross-border investment and foster collaborative economic policies within the ASEAN bloc.
### Diplomatic Ties and Regional Influence
The presence of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who currently serves as Thailand’s Prime Minister, underscores the diplomatic significance of the visit. While the meeting was framed around economic development, it also served to reinforce personal and political ties between the Indonesian leadership and the Shinawatra family.
President Prabowo has emphasized a foreign policy focused on “neighborly cooperation” since his inauguration. The dialogue with the Shinawatras aligns with this approach, prioritizing direct engagement with key regional figures to secure investment stability. The Indonesian government has framed these talks as an opportunity to align Thailand’s economic growth trajectory with Indonesia’s domestic development agenda.
### Future Engagement
The meeting concluded without the announcement of specific investment contracts or binding agreements. The Indonesian Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and the leadership of Danantara remain tasked with finalizing the operational guidelines for external partnerships.
The administration has not provided a timeline for when the first international capital commitments to Danantara will be formalized, leaving the specific depth of the Thai-Indonesian financial partnership to be determined in subsequent ministerial-level negotiations.