[JAKARTA] With Indonesia’s Constitutional Court rejecting challenges from the two losing candidates at the Feb 14 election, the path is finally clear for president-elect Prabowo Subianto and his deputy Gibran Rakabuming Raka to begin the long process of forming a new government.

This new administration, which will take office in October this year, will have many pressing tasks to deal with, such as navigating geopolitical uncertainties in the Pacific Ocean, attracting greater foreign investment and boosting the domestic manufacturing sector.

Tellingly, Prabowo’s first overseas trips as Indonesia’s next leader were to China and Japan, two major investors and trade partners that have been competing for large infrastructure projects in South-east Asia’s largest economy.