DPR Deputy Speaker, Singaporean Ambassador Discuss Bilateral Cooperation, Excluding Free Nutritious Meals

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, received a visit from Ambassador to Indonesia, Kwok Fook Seng, to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two nations. The meeting, held at the Parliament Building in Central Jakarta on Friday, January 17, 2025, did not address the government's program.

Dasco received Ambassador Seng who was accompanied by his Deputy and Secretary, Terrence Teo and Jonathan Seng. During the meeting, a range of topics were discussed, some of which remain confidential.

“There were many things discussed, some of which can be published and some cannot. We discussed renewable energy (EBT) and food and explored cooperation in various fields,” Dasco told reporters following the meeting.

When asked whether the discussion included President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meals program, Dasco responded negatively. “We did not discuss the free nutritious meals program. Our focus was on renewable energy,” he said.

Previously, Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), responsible for implementing the free nutritious meals program, outlined potential funding sources. In addition to the state budget, he emphasized the importance of coordination with ministries/institutions, regional governments, and third parties through investment opportunities.

The free nutritious meals program has already secured foreign investment commitments from China. Last year, the Chinese government agreed to fund the "Food Supplementation and School Feeding Program in Indonesia" as a demonstration of support for President Prabowo's initiative. This funding commitment was a result of Prabowo's visit to China from Friday, November 8, 2024, to Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Han Revanda Putra contributed to the writing of this article.

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