Jakarta \u2014 President Prabowo Subianto attended a Business Forum with\nthe US Chamber of Commerce during his visit to Washington D.C., United\nStates, on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 local time.<\/p>\n
Before the assembled American business leaders, Prabowo outlined a\nrange of priority programmes under his administration, from the Free\nNutritious Meals programme (MBG), the establishment of the Danantara\nsovereign wealth fund, to his commitment to eradicating corruption and\nimproving governance.<\/p>\n
Prabowo emphasised that his government is focused on delivering\ntangible benefits for the people whilst simultaneously creating a stable\nand trustworthy investment climate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have undertaken large-scale projects designed to address the\nproblem of many of our children facing hunger and malnutrition. I am\nrunning the Free Nutritious Meals programme, which I essentially learnt\nfrom the American and European experience,\u201d Prabowo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that this is a real part of the democratisation\nprocess. Genuine democracy must deliver benefits that are directly felt\nby the public through education and health services,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
Prabowo also explained that the MBG programme has an impact beyond\nmerely fulfilling children\u2019s nutritional needs \u2014 it also drives economic\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now have 23,000 kitchens, each employing 50 people in villages.\nMothers who previously had no income now have an income. The programme\nalso creates demand in every village for eggs, chicken, vegetables and\ntomatoes, giving surrounding farmers a guaranteed market. This produces\na multiplier effect that creates a kind of economic boom from the ground\nup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Beyond the MBG programme, Prabowo also introduced the establishment\nof the Danantara sovereign wealth fund as part of the national\nindustrial downstreaming strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have just established a new sovereign wealth fund called\nDanantara. All state-owned assets have been consolidated into this\ninvestment management body to drive industrial downstreaming,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Prabowo openly acknowledged the serious challenges in governance,\nincluding corruption and illegal economic activities. At the same time,\nhe affirmed his commitment to confront and eradicate them directly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have governance problems, corruption, and institutional\nweaknesses. There is widespread smuggling. There are many illegal\neconomic activities such as illegal mining, illegal fishing, and illegal\nplantations in protected forests. These are long-standing problems, but\nI have chosen to confront them head-on,\u201d Prabowo concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-tells-us-business-leaders-about-free-nutritious-meals-programme-and-commitment-to-combat-corruption-1771630338", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }