JAKARTA: Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated on Sunday as the eighth president of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, following a decisive electoral victory. The former defense minister, who recently celebrated his 73rd birthday, won nearly 60 percent of the vote in February, securing his presidency with policies such as providing free meals for school children worth US$28 billion. According to Emirates News Agency, thousands of supporters gathered along Jakarta's streets to celebrate the new president, who has made promises of economic growth and self-sufficiency in staple production. During his emotional speech at the People's Consultative Assembly, the retired army general stated that national unity and food security would be central to his administration's priorities. He also pledged that Indonesia's natural resources would be utilized for the benefit of its citizens. Prabowo laid out his vision for the next five years, aiming for Indonesia to achieve food self-sufficiency and emer ge as a global food supplier. "We are blessed with vast land and maritime territories, as well as abundant natural resources that are invaluable in the 21st century and beyond," he said, emphasizing the potential for Indonesia's growth on the world stage. The inauguration ceremony was attended by leaders and officials from over 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Korea, China, Australia, and various Southeast Asian nations, reflecting the global interest in Indonesia's political and economic trajectory under Prabowo's leadership.