Indonesia’s G20 Commitment: Investing in Education and Nutrition to Combat Poverty

Prabowo Subianto at G20 Summit: Education and Nutrition as Key Strategies Against Poverty

President Prabowo Subianto spoke at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. He highlighted education as Indonesia’s top priority in battling poverty. Prabowo stated, “I spend a very high percentage on education because I believe that education will bring us out of poverty.”

He addressed the importance of addressing hunger and poverty for Indonesia. He pointed out the government’s Free Nutritious Meals program for children, calling it a crucial tool in this fight. “Free meals for our children is a vital part of our strategy,” he said.

Prabowo expressed hope that the government would solve hunger issues in Indonesia. Currently, 25 percent of Indonesian children face hunger daily. He outlined his goals: addressing food shortages in three years, achieving food self-sufficiency in four years, and joining the global effort against poverty and hunger within five years.

The 2025 state budget allocates Rp724.3 trillion (approximately US$45.7 billion) for education. Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka launched the Free Nutritious Meals program as part of their 2024–2029 plan. The government established the National Nutrition Agency in August 2024 to support this initiative.