Rather than importing dairy milk, Indonesia prefers to import live cows to be able to feed Indonesian students free and nutritious lunches as part of their new school meal program.
This decision aims to reduce reliance on imports and support local dairy production, despite the government acknowledging the need to import 3 million tonnes of milk initially to meet the program's demand. Indonesia is exploring partnerships with countries like Japan, India, and China to learn from their successful school meal initiatives and manage costs effectively.
Citations:
[1] https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-wont-import-milk-for-free-school-meal-program-govt-says
[2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-26/dairy-australia-watching-indonesia-free-lunch-and-milk-plan/103883796
[3] https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2024/07/30/govt-to-import-3-million-tonnes-of-milk-for-free-meal-program.html
[4] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3270155/indonesia-taps-japan-india-china-expertise-free-school-meals-prabowo-battles-cost-concerns
[5] https://schoolmealscoalition.org/school-meals-pilot-indonesia/