Public Optimistic, Prabowo-Gibran Programs Able to Advance IndonesiaBy Lana Anindya )*
After the inauguration of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as President and Vice President on October 20, 2024, public enthusiasm for their flagship programs has grown stronger. Support from various elements of society, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), and the agricultural and foreign investment sectors, is an indication that this government has received strong support to realize a more advanced development vision.
One of the key components of support for the Prabowo-Gibran government comes from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Anindya Bakrie, Chairman of Kadin, has stated his organization’s full commitment to making the programs that will be implemented by the new Prabowo-Gibran government a success. Kadin, as a forum representing the business and industrial sectors in Indonesia, plays a major role in supporting the continuity of development policies pioneered by President Joko Widodo. This commitment aims to ensure that development targets, including those listed in the State Budget (APBN), can be achieved, even exceeding expectations.
According to Anindya, the success of development is not only determined by the role of the government, but also the active involvement of the community, especially the business world. Kadin will focus on its strategic role in supporting vital sectors, such as infrastructure, industry, and energy, so that the continuity of development can run smoothly. This also shows that this organization is not just criticizing government policies, but also being an active partner in making government programs a success.
Other support also comes from the health sector, especially in terms of the free nutritious meal program which is one of the main agendas of the Prabowo-Gibran government. The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), dr. Adib Khumaidi, SpOT, stated that this program is a concrete step that is greatly needed to improve the fulfillment of nutrition for Indonesian children, especially in overcoming the problem of stunting.
Stunting is a serious problem still faced by Indonesia, where the prevalence of children who experience stunted growth due to malnutrition is still quite high. This free nutritious meal program is an important breakthrough that is not only short-term, but will also have a long-term impact in improving the health quality of the nation’s next generation. The use of fish milk as one component in this program is an innovation that deserves appreciation, considering the nutritional content of fish which is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids is very beneficial for children’s growth.
With the support of IDI and medical personnel throughout Indonesia, it is hoped that this program can run effectively and have a significant impact. Collaboration between the government and health workers will ensure that this program is not only on paper, but is truly felt by the wider community, especially those in hard-to-reach areas.
Not only in the health sector, support for the Prabowo-Gibran government’s flagship program also comes from the agricultural sector and foreign investment. The Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, in his efforts to strengthen the food sector, has opened the door to cooperation with a Qatari agricultural company, Baladna, which is willing to invest in the development of dairy farming in Indonesia. This investment is expected to help Indonesia achieve its milk self-sufficiency target, as well as support the free nutritious meal program initiated by the new government.
Baladna, which has a production capacity of up to 2 million tons of milk per year, is ready to invest heavily to ensure that domestic milk availability increases significantly. This is a very strategic step considering that Indonesia has so far relied on milk imports to meet domestic needs. With this investment, Indonesia has a great opportunity to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen food security, especially in the milk sector.
Minister Amran emphasized that Indonesia is targeting milk self-sufficiency by 2029, in accordance with the Agricultural Blueprint that has been prepared. This collaboration with Baladna will not only provide short-term benefits, but will also help Indonesia build stronger domestic milk infrastructure and production capacity, so that it can meet domestic needs independently in the future.
The free nutritious meal program, which focuses on improving children’s nutrition, is a strategic step to build a healthier and smarter future generation. Support from IDI and the health sector strengthens the belief that this program will be successful and provide a real positive impact on society.
