Key Takeaways from President Prabowo's France Visit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto returned to Indonesia on Friday, May 29, 2026, after wrapping up his fourth official state visit to France. Prabowo arrived in Paris on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, touching down at Orly Airport at approximately 09:50 local time. His high-profile diplomatic mission coincided with the celebration of Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijri.

Foreign Minister Sugiono noted that President Prabowo Subianto's latest trip to France was to honor an official invitation from President Emmanuel Macron. According to Sugiono, Prabowo finally accepted Macron's invitation, which had been previously delayed as both leaders worked to align their schedules.

"This is an invitation from President Macron that was actually postponed. If I am not mistaken, the visit was originally expected to take place back in April, but the timing was simply not suitable at that moment," Sugiono said on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as quoted from a video statement.

While in Paris, Prabowo discussed bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and France, which is widely regarded as being at its highest point in the history of their diplomatic relations. Prabowo even revealed that he has requested schools across Indonesia to introduce French language lessons to students.

Here are the key facts surrounding Prabowo's visit to France:

Eid Al-Adha Prayer in Paris

Prabowo performed his Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijri prayers in Paris, France, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The congregational prayers were held at the Indonesian Ambassador’s Residence at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, located in the French capital.

Prabowo stood in the front row for the prayers. The former defense minister was flanked by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya and the Indonesian Ambassador to France, Mohamad Oemar. The Minister of Investment and CEO of BPI Danantara, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, was also visible in the same row, while Prabowo's son, Didit Hediprasetyo, was also spotted at the venue.

Following the sermon, Prabowo was seen shaking hands and exchanging greetings with members of the Indonesian diaspora who attended the congregational Eid al-Adha prayer. The morning event then transitioned into a casual gathering and a shared traditional meal.

The Cabinet Secretary's office confirmed that the President's visit to France had been on the agenda for quite some time. "The invitation had been scheduled since last year and went through several rounds of rescheduling," Teddy said in a written statement on Tuesday.

Prabowo Mandates French Lessons for Indonesian Schools

During his high-level meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, Prabowo announced that he has instructed schools back home to implement French language learning into their curriculum.

The head of state initially noted that bilateral relations between Indonesia and France across various sectors are in excellent health. He expressed a strong desire to further expand this partnership into the realm of education.

"I have now instructed that all levels of schools in Indonesia must learn French, keeping in view the future structural developments of the world," Prabowo said on Thursday evening, May 28, 2026, as broadcast via the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel.

Reflecting on the Frequency of His French Visits

During the official gathering, Prabowo also acknowledged the sheer frequency of his recent travels to France. Having already visited France in January and April of 2026, this May trip marked his third visit within a span of just five months.

Speaking to President Macron, Prabowo expressed his deep appreciation for the warm hospitality and honors extended to him and the visiting Indonesian delegation. "As is well known, this year alone I have already traveled to France three times," Prabowo remarked.

Prabowo Launches Joint Business Council

During this meeting, Prabowo alongside President Emmanuel Macron officially launched a corporate forum dubbed the France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council. The unveiling took place while Prabowo was attending the Indonesia-France CEO Forum in Paris on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

"Together with His Excellency President Emmanuel Macron, officially launched the France-Indonesia High Level Business Council (FI-HLBC)," read a post on Prabowo's official Instagram account, @presidenrepublikindonesia, on Friday, May 29, 2026.

Prabowo conveyed that this specific business council was established by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) in partnership with MEDEF International. The France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council is designed to be a platform to bolster bilateral trade.

Signing US$3.5 Billion in Commercial Deals

Minister of Investment and Downstream and CEO of Danantara, Rosan Roeslani, revealed that the momentum from the council's launch successfully yielded four new commercial agreements worth US$3.5 billion, equivalent to roughly Rp62.38 trillion at an exchange rate of Rp17,824 per US dollar.

Rosan specified that the agreements center heavily on energy resilience, trade, and defense cooperation. "The agreements reached demonstrate that Indonesia is viewed as a strategic partner with long-term growth prospects and an increasingly competitive investment climate," Rosan explained in a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat's Bureau of Press, Media, and Information on Friday, May 29, 2026.

Rosan further detailed that the France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council functions as a forum, bringing together 30 industry leaders and major corporations from both nations. According to him, the combined market capitalization of the participating entities reaches US$1.3 trillion.

Ervana Trikanaputri contributed to this article.

Read: Why Does Prabowo Frequently Visit France?

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