Prabowo Honors Bill Gates with Order of Distinguished Stars
New York. President Prabowo Subianto has bestowed the Order of Distinguished Stars on Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, recognizing his long-standing contributions to Indonesia in health, research, and humanitarian work.
“I confer this honor to Bill Gates,” Prabowo said after meeting Gates in New York on Tuesday, following his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
Prabowo said Gates has provided extraordinary support to Indonesia, particularly in seed research, medicine, and vaccine development. He estimated contributions from Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at Rp7 trillion to Rp8 trillion ($450 million to $520 million), with broader impacts of around Rp75 trillion ($4.5 billion)
He added that Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has maintained close communication with the Gates Foundation to explore further partnerships in humanitarian projects. These efforts include supporting vulnerable communities, tackling poverty and hunger, and expanding access to education.
“Education is the key to our future,” Prabowo said.
The meeting between the two figures lasted about 15 minutes before Prabowo returned to the UN headquarters for a series of closed-door discussions.
Gates last visited Jakarta in May, when he met Prabowo to discuss sustainable development initiatives in global health, nutrition, financial inclusion, and digital infrastructure. During that visit, Prabowo announced his plan to grant Gates Indonesia’s top honor for his contributions, not only to Indonesians but to the wider world.
Past recipients of the Order of Distinguished Stars include Shoichiro Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation from 1992 to 1999 and honorary chairman until his death in 2023; FIFA President Gianni Infantino; and Lippo Group founder Mochtar Riady.
Tags: Keywords:
as a preferred
Related Articles
Dino Patti Djalal Says Indonesia’s Government Remains Reactive, Not Preventive
Dino P. Djalal says Indonesia’s government remains reactive rather than preventive, citing gaps in risk management and crisis preparedness.
Prabowo-Gibran Government Wins 63.1% Public Trust in Voxpol Survey
Voxpol’s survey finds 63.1% of Indonesians trust Prabowo-Gibran, while 61.1% believe the government can solve the country’s problems.
Prabowo Threatens to Revoke Mining Permits Inactive for Two Years
Prabowo vows to revoke mining permits inactive for over two years, citing nearly $300 billion in proven reserves across five concessions.
Prabowo Launches Council to Improve Financial Welfare of Indonesian Families
Prabowo launches a new council to shift Indonesia's financial inclusion agenda toward improving household welfare and resilience.
Prabowo Vows Action Against Foreign Companies Linked to Forest Fires
Prabowo vows tougher action against foreign firms implicated in forest fires, warning that repeat offenders could lose their permits.
Jakarta Stocks Jump 1.12% as Investors Assess Prabowo’s MSCI Remarks
Indonesian stocks rose 1.12% as investors assessed Prabowo’s MSCI remarks and Bank Indonesia’s decision to hold its benchmark rate.
Indonesia Must Fix Market Transparency, Not Fight MSCI, Analyst Says
Indonesia should address market transparency concerns raised by MSCI instead of treating the global index provider as an adversary.
Prabowo Rejects Criticism of Oversized Cabinet
Prabowo defends his 53-member cabinet, saying a broad political coalition is vital to governing Indonesia and improving public welfare.
Only 12% of Red and White Village Cooperatives Operational After Two Years
Fewer than 12% of Indonesia’s 83,000 legally established Red and White Village Cooperatives have operational businesses, an expert says.
Prabowo Summons Economic Team Amid Market Volatility
Prabowo meets senior economic officials as the JCI rebounds 4.16% and the rupiah strengthens to Rp 17,992 per dollar.The Latest
Ye Concert, Other Events to Draw 130,000 to GBK, Here’s What to Know
Around 130,000 visitors are expected at Jakarta’s GBK on Saturday as Ye’s concert and several major events take place.
Indonesia Allocates Rp 722 Billion for Year-End Flight Ticket Tax Relief
Indonesia allocates Rp 722 billion to cover domestic flight ticket VAT during the 2026/2027 Christmas and New Year holidays.
Greece Floats Shipbuilding Partnership with Indonesia
Greece says that it possesses “extensive expertise” as it woos Indonesia in shipbuilding partnership.
Indonesian Stocks Rally 4.9%, but Foreign Investors Keep Selling
Indonesia’s JCI rose 4.9% last week, but foreign selling and MSCI downgrade risks continue to cloud the market outlook.
Ye Concert in Jakarta to Deploy 2,000 Security Personnel
More than 2,000 personnel will secure Ye’s Jakarta concert on Saturday, as organizers urge fans to use public transport.Most Popular
