India's Modi Discusses Free Nutritious Meals Programme with Prabowo, Pledges Wheat Seed Supply
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revealed that India and Indonesia have agreed to increase cooperation across several sectors, including the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. He noted that for both nations, this programme serves as a vital tool in tackling poverty.
Modi stated that India possesses a similar free meal programme to Indonesia’s. Consequently, both heads of state have agreed to elevate their collaborative efforts to a higher level.
“For India and Indonesia, tackling poverty and ensuring that public welfare programmes reach all members of society is our highest shared priority,” Modi said during a joint statement with Prabowo at the Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“We have similar lunch programmes and public distribution systems in Indonesia. And now, we are elevating that cooperation to a higher level,” he added.
On this occasion, Modi also mentioned that India will supply wheat seeds to Indonesia to strengthen food security. He stated that India and Indonesia will exchange practices regarding sustainable farming and agrotechnology.
Both nations will also work to ensure quality healthcare services. High-quality and affordable medicines from India will become more available to Indonesian citizens, alongside efforts to increase the capacity of doctors and healthcare workers in Indonesia.
Previously, Prabowo and Modi finalised 16 mutually beneficial agreements for both countries. One notable agreement includes the “Extension of the Framework Agreement between the National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia and the Indian Space Research Organisation on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.”
The two leaders also announced 15 other documents covering strategic fields ranging from defence and energy to health, culture, and technology.
According to the Presidential Secretariat, the announced documents include:
Protocol Extension of the Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Safety and Security Cooperation;
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management;
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Minerals and Technologies for the Steel Supply Chain;
Implementing Arrangement (IA) on Health Workforce Collaboration;
Letter of Intent for the Conservation and Restoration of Prambanan Temple Complex, Indonesia;
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Telecommunications Technologies and Services;
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Medical Products Regulation;
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture;
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Management and Technology Utilisation in Elections;
Memorandum of Understanding on Research, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation;
Contract Signing for BrahMos Missile Defence System between BrahMos and the Ministry of Defence;
Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement between Bharat Dynamics and Republikorp;
Memorandum of Understanding between Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Midwest Ltds., and PT. Perusahaan Mineral Nasional (PERMINAS);
Strategic Joint Venture between Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and PT. Krakatau Steel; and
Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and PT. Intelegensi Grahatama.