Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto plans to meet with Bill Gates, chairman of the Gates Foundation. The meeting is set to occur in Indonesia on May 7, 2025.

On May 4, 2025, Prabowo noted that the specific details of Gates’ potential support for social programs in Indonesia are not yet defined.

He highlighted that his administration will continue to prioritize its initiative to provide free meals to schoolchildren.

According to the president, Gates’ visit aims to express solidarity with Indonesia. However, further details on the agenda have not been disclosed.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Gates Foundation’s decade-long health investment strategy in Indonesia

Bill Gates’ planned meeting with President Prabowo continues a pattern of strategic health investments in Indonesia dating back to at least 2013.

The Gates Foundation has committed substantial funds to Indonesian health initiatives, including matching $40 million from Indonesian business leaders for the Indonesia Health Fund in 2014, which focused on combating AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria1.

This built upon their earlier 2013 partnership with the Tahir Foundation, where Gates matched a $75 million investment ($65 million for the Global Fund and $10 million for family planning) to enhance health access for Indonesia’s poorest citizens2.

The Foundation’s approach consistently leverages public-private partnerships, exemplified by their work with local philanthropists like Dr. Tahir and eight Indonesian businessmen who each committed $5 million to health initiatives3.

Their investments have supported concrete healthcare outcomes, including treatment for over 1 million tuberculosis cases and distribution of approximately 9 million insecticide-treated nets over a decade2.

2️⃣ Potential alignment with Indonesia’s ambitious school meal program

President Prabowo’s mention of the school meal program is significant as it represents one of his signature initiatives and faces substantial implementation challenges that could benefit from external support.

The program aims to serve 83 million children at an estimated cost of $28 billion, with an initial target of reaching 17 million children by the end of 2025, making it one of the largest school feeding initiatives globally4.

Indonesian children face a “triple burden of malnutrition” with the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey reporting 19.7% of primary school children as overweight or obese while 11% remain underweight4.