November 11, 2025 | 11:43 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australian Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Gita Kamath, said that the Australian government is supporting Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Indonesia.
The support is being provided via the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE), an initiative formalized on March 21, 2025.
“There are three CoEs. One in Bandung, one in Surabaya, and another in Papua,” Kamath said during a meeting at Ayana Midplaza Jakarta on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The CoEs will assist the implementation of President Prabowo's flaghsip program through research, training, and innovation to enhance the program’s effectiveness. Their broader goal is to improve access to quality nutrition services for children and women.
The initiative involves multiple institutions, including the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) as the organizer, the MBG program, Indonesia's IPB University, and the National Development Planning Agency.
The CoE’s mission also includes strengthening evidence-based policy advocacy, supporting government programs, and increasing public awareness about nutrition.
Meanwhile, Su McCluskey, Acting Chief Executive of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), said that the Australian government has also facilitated a series of meetings between Australian and Indonesian entrepreneurs to strengthen cooperation in the agribusiness sector.
The discussions covered upstream areas such as meat, dairy, and fruit production, which are expected to contribute to downstream initiatives like the MBG program.
“I think the real breakthrough now is not only viewing trade as a connection between Australia and Indonesia, but as a partnership that allows us to collaborate and expand into larger markets,” McCluskey said.
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