From Free Meals to Kampung Haji, Prabowo Administration Clocks Major Gains in 2025

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Prabowo Subianto rolled out a series of flagship programs throughout 2025 in Indonesia aimed at improving nutrition, health access, economic governance, and national resilience, a policy push that reshaped priorities in the first full year of his administration. The measures were designed to address basic needs while strengthening Indonesia’s position at home and abroad.

From January to March 2025, the government focused on human capital and social protection, starting with the launch of the Free Nutritious Meals program in January. The initiative targeted children and vulnerable groups through 190 kitchens across 38 provinces, while also supporting local farmers and food businesses to stimulate regional economies.

In February, the government established Danantara Indonesia to consolidate state-owned enterprise assets valued at about Rp 16,000 trillion, aiming to boost efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness. In the same month, it introduced the Free Health Check program, expanding preventive healthcare access and reducing long-term medical costs.

March marked the issuance of a government regulation on child protection in digital spaces, reinforcing safeguards against online exploitation and harmful content. The policy emphasized prevention through stronger roles for parents, schools, and digital platforms.

Between April and June 2025, Prabowo intensified Indonesia’s global engagement, including a speech before the Turkish parliament affirming support for Palestinian independence. The stance reinforced Indonesia’s principle-based diplomacy rooted in humanitarian values.

In May, cooperation deepened with global partners following visits by international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, which produced more than 20 strategic agreements across defense, energy, education, and green transition sectors. The administration also reaffirmed commitments to public health programs backed by international partnerships.

June saw the inauguration of a new campus of the Indonesian Defense University, underscoring the government’s emphasis on strategic human capital in defense and geopolitics. Prabowo also drew international attention at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, positioning Indonesia as a bridge between developed and developing economies.

In the second half of the year, food security and diplomacy dominated policy. In July, Indonesia’s rice reserves hit a record 4.2 million tons, while Saudi Arabia approved Indonesia’s proposal to establish a Kampung Haji in Mecca to improve pilgrim services. Indonesia also made history by joining France’s Bastille Day parade and advancing major trade agreements, including IEU-CEPA.

August brought domestic reforms, including the abolition of bonuses for state-owned enterprise commissioners, saving an estimated Rp 8.2 trillion annually. The government also launched 100 territorial development battalions and expanded access to education through People’s Schools.

In September, authorities shut down 1,000 illegal tin mines in Bangka Belitung and expanded Indonesia’s diplomatic role at the United Nations, where Prabowo became the first Indonesian president to address the General Assembly. Indonesia also committed to deploying peacekeeping forces for humanitarian missions in Gaza.

The final quarter of 2025 focused on consolidation, with Indonesia playing an active role in Middle East peace talks, securing Michelin Keys recognition for 33 hotels, and maintaining economic growth of 5.04 percent in the third quarter. By December, the Free Nutritious Meals program had reached 50.7 million beneficiaries, while asset recovery efforts returned Rp 6.6 trillion to the state.

The year closed with the launch of mass subsidized mortgage contracts for 50,030 households and a renewed call for national solidarity to rebuild flood-affected regions in Sumatra.