President Prabowo Launches Free Nutritious Meals Program as a Strategic Investment in Indonesia’s Future
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Prabowo Subianto introduced a transformative initiative aimed at improving the nation’s future through the implementation of a free nutritious meals program. The initiative, which will be rolled out across 330,000 schools in Indonesia, is considered a crucial step towards ensuring the welfare of the nation’s youth and pregnant women.
Speaking via video conference at the World Governments Summit 2025, President Prabowo emphasized the far-reaching impact of the program. “Providing nutritious meals each day might seem modest, yet when implemented across hundreds of thousands of schools—from remote villages to vibrant urban centers—it becomes a significant investment in our future,” he said.
The program is set to benefit more than 85 million children and pregnant women, fostering better health and educational outcomes for the younger population.
In addition to the free meal initiative, President Prabowo’s administration is also launching free health screenings aimed at improving the quality of human resources in line with Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045. “This program will promote preventive care and early detection of health issues, fostering a healthier and more productive society while saving substantial costs,” he added.
To support these welfare initiatives, the president highlighted the government’s fiscal responsibility, revealing budget savings of over USD 20 billion, equivalent to 10 percent of the annual State Budget. These savings will be allocated towards financing more than 20 multi-billion-dollar strategic projects designed to transform the country’s infrastructure and industries.
Among the key projects are investments in the downstream industries of critical minerals, such as nickel, bauxite, and copper, as well as the expansion of the petrochemical industry and the development of a large-scale AI data center. “Sound financial stewardship and management are essential to making these initiatives a reality,” President Prabowo stated.
In addition, the president underscored the government’s commitment to advancing food security, with the goal of turning Indonesia into a net food exporter within a few years.
The World Governments Summit, held annually in Dubai, gathers global leaders, experts, and institutions, including the United Nations (UN), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Indonesian delegation at this year’s summit was led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.
