Jakarta. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on Thursday unveiled a prototype school shoe developed by its researchers that could retail for as little as Rp 75,000 ($4), as part of a government initiative to make essential school supplies more affordable.

The project was launched in response to a directive from President Prabowo Subianto, who asked BRIN to develop innovative and low-cost footwear for the public.

BRIN Chairman Arif Satria said the shoes are made primarily from rubber and are designed to be lightweight, comfortable and visually appealing, while an efficient manufacturing process is expected to keep production costs low.

During a presentation at the Presidential Palace, Arif invited reporters to try on the prototype shoes.

BRIN is also developing additional versions using different materials and designs, which are expected to sell for more than Rp 100,000.

The agency believes the footwear could help support Indonesia's Sekolah Rakyat program, which provides free education, meals, clothing and boarding facilities for students from low-income families.

Arif said the shoes are currently undergoing internal testing before entering commercial production.

Once the evaluation phase is completed, BRIN plans to partner with manufacturers to produce the shoes on a larger scale and distribute them more widely.

"We will look for industrial partners so the shoes can be produced on a much larger scale," Arif said after attending a meeting with the president.

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