JAKARTA, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota has stepped down as president director of state-owned food company Agrinas Pangan Nusantara just six months into his tenure, citing the absence of budget allocations to carry out the firm’s programs.
Mota said food security is a strategic issue that has drawn serious attention from President Prabowo Subianto, but claimed that government stakeholders have failed to match that commitment with tangible support.
Former President Director of Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota.
“The president’s seriousness in supporting and driving every effort to achieve food sovereignty has not been fully supported by stakeholders or his aides. To this day, we have not received maximum support,” Mota told reporters at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.
He added that Agrinas has yet to receive any budget to execute its planned projects. “Including budget support. Until today, Agrinas Nusantara’s funding remains at zero,” he said.
Mota, who had previously submitted his resignation letter to the sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia, admitted that he had not been able to deliver concrete contributions to the national economy or improve farmers’ welfare. He apologized to the public and to President Prabowo.
“Allow me to submit my resignation and to apologize,” Mota said, bowing during the press conference.
Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani said the fund respected Mota’s decision, describing it as a professional step that would be handled in accordance with corporate governance rules. He assured that Agrinas’ operations would continue without disruption and that leadership transition would proceed in an orderly manner.
“Danantara Indonesia respects Mr. Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota’s personal decision to resign as president director of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara,” Rosan said in a statement. “We will ensure the transition process is well-planned and that the company’s strategic programs remain on track.”
Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, which operates across the food supply chain from upstream to downstream, was launched on May 14. Its first project is set to begin in Baturaja, South Sumatra, as part of its broader business plan.
