Rio de Janeiro, November 19, 2024 – The Europe Today: Speaking at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto underscored his administration’s commitment to eradicating poverty through substantial investments in education and nutrition. His remarks, as broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s official YouTube channel, emphasized the government’s strategic focus on empowering future generations.
“In my budget, I spend a very high percentage on education because I believe that education will bring us out of poverty,” President Prabowo stated, highlighting the nation’s largest budgetary allocation to education. For 2025, Indonesia’s education budget is set at Rp724.3 trillion (approximately US$45.7 billion), reinforcing its pivotal role in national development.
Addressing G20 leaders, President Prabowo stressed the dual priorities of combating hunger and poverty as essential for developing nations like Indonesia. He spotlighted the government’s Free Nutritious Meals program for children, describing it as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s efforts to reduce hunger and enhance educational outcomes.
“Free meals for our children is a vital part of our strategy. This is also part of empowering our young to be able to grasp the benefits of education,” he remarked.
President Prabowo expressed optimism about overcoming food insecurity, noting that 25% of Indonesian children currently face hunger daily. His administration has set ambitious goals, including addressing food shortages within three years, achieving food self-sufficiency in four years, and contributing significantly to global efforts against poverty and hunger within five years.
To support these initiatives, the government established the National Nutrition Agency in August 2024, tasked with ensuring the effective implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals program. The initiative, part of the administration’s 2024–2029 work agenda alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is aimed at fostering an exceptional future generation equipped to thrive in a competitive global landscape.
The president’s remarks reaffirm Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable development and its active role in global alliances to combat poverty and hunger.
