The Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masaki Yasushi, has expressed Japan’s interest in the free nutritious meal program for students proposed by the elected president for 2024-2029, Prabowo Subianto. Yasushi highlighted the importance of the program and mentioned that the Japanese government plans to invite the Indonesian government to Japan in September 2024 to discuss the initiative.
Japan has had a free school lunch program in place for over 100 years, aimed at improving children’s nutrition, particularly for low-income families. The Japanese government is eager to share its experiences with Indonesia and emphasize the importance of education about food and nutrition for children.
The free nutritious meal program at schools is one of the flagship programs announced by Prabowo and the elected vice-president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and is set to begin in 2025 and be implemented in phases.
