Bill Gates Appreciates MBG Budget Size, Affirms Government Priority Programs
By: Milea Maset
Bill Gates’ visit to Indonesia in early May 2025 is an affirmation that the world is taking the Indonesian government’s priority programs seriously, especially those targeting improving the quality of life of the younger generation. During his visit to the Merdeka Palace and a school in Jakarta, the billionaire and global philanthropist showed deep interest and appreciation for the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) which is currently being promoted by the government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto.
In his interactions with state officials, including when directly reviewing the implementation of MBG at SDN Jati 03 Jakarta, Bill Gates assessed that this kind of initiative not only requires seriousness from a technical perspective, but also full commitment in terms of financing, and it is believed that Indonesia has prepared itself to answer this challenge.
The momentum of the arrival of a world figure of Bill Gates’ caliber is actually an indirect recognition of the direction of the Indonesian government’s policy which now places fulfilling children’s nutrition as a national priority. Bill Gates’ enthusiastic attitude clearly reflects appreciation and recognition of the success of the Indonesian government’s policy in implementing MBG, Bill Gates’ enthusiastic attitude and involvement in reviewing school kitchens, directly witnessing the process of nutritious food consumption by students, to monitoring the basic health services provided, shows appreciation for the concrete steps that have been taken by the Indonesian government. Of course, this also reflects that the humanistic development approach that is oriented towards the basic welfare of the people, as shown through MBG, is considered in line with global values in sustainable human development.
More than just a symbolic visit, Bill Gates’ presence in the direct implementation of MBG strengthens the moral legitimacy of this program. The Indonesian government, through President Prabowo, clearly shows that the state is present in an effort to reduce malnutrition, stunting, and increase the resilience of future generations. President Prabowo also said that the funds needed to implement this program have been specially prepared, as proof that MBG is not just a temporary project, but part of a long-term strategic policy. In a discussion with important national figures, Bill Gates even gave important emphasis on the first 1,000 days of life, which includes ages zero to two years, as the most critical phase that must be the main focus in implementing MBG.
Bill Gates’ appreciation for the large budget allocation for the MBG program was clearly reflected in the explanation of the Head of the National Nutrition Agency. However, the impression captured was very clear, a program like MBG is not only worthy of being implemented, but must also be prioritized because it touches on the root of long-term development problems. Dadan even said that nothing was engineered during the visit, everything happened naturally, showing the government’s confidence in the substance and quality of the program being run.
The presence of other important figures during the visit, from ministry officials to heads of related institutions, strengthened MBG’s position as a cross-sector flagship program. Their presence was not only as protocol assistants, but was a strong signal that this policy was supported by the entire government structure. It is no exaggeration to say that MBG has become the face of the Prabowo government’s vision to build Indonesian human resources from upstream to downstream, from food access, health checks, to providing a learning environment that supports children’s growth and development.
What makes this visit even more valuable is how President Prabowo used the moment to show that the spirit of mutual cooperation and philanthropy demonstrated by Bill Gates is a reflection of the values of Pancasila. Collaboration between the government and external parties, as long as it is in line with the basic principles of Indonesian nationality, is not only legitimate, but also needs to be maintained and improved. This is also a reminder that the direction of Indonesia’s national development is not running alone, but is receiving sympathy and support from a caring global community.
In addition to monitoring the MBG program, Bill Gates also touched on other aspects of his contribution to Indonesia, especially in the fields of health, technology, and agriculture. The total grant assistance from The Gates Foundation that has flowed to Indonesia has reached more than USD 159 million since 2009. This figure is certainly not a small amount, especially since most of it is directed at strategic health sectors such as vaccination.
