President Prabowo Subianto: Free Nutritious Meals Program is Strategic Investment in Indonesia’s Future

President Prabowo Subianto at the 2025 Forbes Global CEO Conference, The St. Regis Hotel, South Jakarta, Wednesday (10/15). (Photo by: BPMI)

President Prabowo Subianto Wednesday (10/15) underscored that the Free Nutritious Meals program represents a strategic initiative designed to ensure that Indonesian children grow up healthy and intelligent; thereby strengthening the nation’s human capital and safeguarding its future.

“The Free Nutritious Meals program is fundamentally about providing nutritious food to children at no cost. The inspiration for this initiative arose from years of experience gained throughout my campaigns,” the President stated during the 2025 Forbes Global CEO Conference at The St. Regis Hotel, South Jakarta.

The Head of State explained that the program’s concept originated from his deep concern about the widespread issues of malnutrition and stunting affecting children across the country.

“Every time I visited a village, I was greeted by children waving at me from the roadside. I often spoke with them and asked their ages. I was frequently shocked. A young boy I thought was four years old turned out to be ten. A girl I assumed was five was actually eleven,” he said.

On the occasion, the President also pointed out that similar meal programs have been successfully implemented in countries like India and Brazil, generating positive social and economic impacts and stated Indonesia has both the capacity and the political will to do the same, demonstrating a commitment to the nation’s children and future.

The Head of State also acknowledged challenges in the field but highlighted that operational standards and food safety oversight are continuously improved.

“There have been a few cases of food poisoning, about 0.0007 percent of total meals distributed. Nonetheless, even a single case is unacceptable. It’s difficult, but we are determined to fix it,” he remarked.

For the record, as of mid-October 2025, the Government had established 11,900 the Free Nutritious Meals’ kitchens, serving 35.4 million children and pregnant women daily, approximately 35 percent of the national target.

The program is also driving local economic growth as thousands of farmers, fishers, and small businesses now have a reliable market for their produce, creating a ripple effect that stimulates rural economies across the country. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (GWH/EP)