Bill Gates met with President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on May 7, 2025, to discuss public health and sustainable development initiatives in Indonesia. The meeting focused on global health, nutrition, financial inclusion, and public digital infrastructure.
The Gates Foundation plans to introduce new anemia medication and tuberculosis vaccines in the country. President Prabowo revealed that the Gates Foundation has provided Indonesia with $159 million in grants, primarily directed towards the health sector over the past years. This includes $78.6 million to combat polio, with vaccines produced in collaboration with Biofarma and shipped to 42 countries.
Gates also unveiled plans to address anemia among women in Indonesia, potentially through multiple micronutrient supplements or one-time infusions. The Gates Foundation is also funding malaria vaccine development and tuberculosis vaccine trials in Indonesia. Prabowo intends to present Gates with the highest civilian award in September at the UN General Assembly, recognizing his commitment to humanitarian causes.
The meeting also included discussions on Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, a key initiative aimed at improving child nutrition and reducing poverty. Gates' visit underscores the Gates Foundation's expanding presence in Southeast Asia, with a new Singapore office to facilitate collaboration on healthcare, fintech, and AI innovations.
During his visit, Gates also visited an elementary school in Jakarta to observe the Free Nutritious Meals program in action.
This article is based on our author's analysis of materials taken from the following resources: www.jakartaglobe.id, tempo.co, antaranews.com, sfchronicle.com, techinasia.com, icrt.com.tw, theedgemalaysia.com, newsday.com