India's Modi Discusses Free Nutritious Meals Programme with Prabowo, Pledges Wheat Seed Supply

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed that Indonesia and India have agreed to enhance cooperation in several sectors, including the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. He stated that for both countries, this programme can help tackle poverty. Modi noted that India also has a free meal programme similar to Indonesia’s. To that end, the two heads of state agreed to pursue higher-level cooperation. “For India and Indonesia, tackling poverty and ensuring public welfare programmes reach all communities is a shared top priority,” Modi said during a joint statement with Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. “We have a similar midday meal programme and public distribution system in Indonesia. And now, we are elevating this cooperation to a higher level,” he added. On the occasion, Modi also mentioned that India would supply wheat seeds to Indonesia to further strengthen food security. He said India and Indonesia would exchange sustainable farming practices and agrotechnology. Both countries will also ensure quality healthcare services. He stated that high-quality, affordable medicines from India will become increasingly available to Indonesian citizens, alongside capacity building for doctors and healthcare workers in Indonesia. Previously, Prabowo and Modi produced 16 mutually beneficial agreements. One of them is 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 cooperation in a number of strategic fields, ranging from defence, energy, health, culture, to technology.