Bill Gates discussed plans for new public health initiatives in Indonesia and explored potential collaboration with the country’s newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, during a visit to Jakarta on Wednesday, Bloomberg reports.
The meeting, which was attended by President Prabowo Subianto, government officials, and several billionaires, marked a significant step in Gates’ efforts to expand philanthropic activities in Asia.
Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s plans to introduce new anemia treatments and tuberculosis vaccines in Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country. He emphasized the progress in health innovation, saying, “A lot still to be done in health, but the innovation pipeline is strong.”
During the meeting, Indonesian officials proposed potential collaboration with Danantara, the sovereign wealth fund launched earlier this year. The fund, part of President Prabowo’s strategy to boost economic growth, aims to allocate up to $1 billion over the next five to six years into various development initiatives. Danantara’s CEO, Rosan Roeslani, suggested setting up a trust fund in partnership with the Gates Foundation to support projects in education, health, and poverty alleviation.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin encouraged Gates to consider joining Danantara’s board, citing his systematic approach to management as a way to help the fund gain the trust of local philanthropists.
The conversation also touched on energy issues. Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the president’s brother and a government adviser on climate, energy, and the environment, raised the topic of nuclear energy, as Indonesia moves toward establishing nuclear power plants. Gates, who has been involved in the development of new nuclear reactor designs, affirmed that nuclear energy could play a crucial role in meeting global energy needs. He emphasized the importance of making nuclear technology both safe and affordable.
Later, Gates and President Prabowo visited a Jakarta elementary school where students received free lunches as part of a national program launched by the government. The program, which is expected to benefit over 80 million people across the country, has been allocated 171 trillion rupiah ($10.4 billion) in funding this year.
This visit follows Gates’ earlier announcement that the Gates Foundation would open a regional office in Singapore. Additionally, the foundation recently signed a partnership agreement with the Tanoto Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Indonesian businessman Sukanto Tanoto, to collaborate on health care, nutrition, and education projects in the region.
Gates’ trip underscores his ongoing commitment to advancing public health and supporting sustainable development in Asia.
