Indonesia continues rice aid for low-income earners in 2025

The Indonesian Government has announced the allocation of a six-month rice aid programme of 2025, aimed at supporting low-income communities, the country’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) has said.

A woman carries a sack of rice provided by the government in North Aceh, Aceh, on May 16, 2024. (Photo: en.antaranews.com)
A woman carries a sack of rice provided by the government in North Aceh, Aceh, on May 16, 2024. (Photo: en.antaranews.com)

Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Government has announced the allocation of a six-month rice aid programme of 2025, aimed at supporting low-income communities, the country’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) has said.

President Prabowo Subianto made the distribution decision at a limited meeting held on December 30.

Accordingly, 10 kilograms of rice per recipient will be distributed for six months, starting January, said head of the agency Arief Prasetyo Adi.

The initiative, proposed by Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, aims to increase the allocation of food assistance for low-income communities.

The Government, in collaboration with the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), is ready to distribute a total of 960,000 tonnes of rice to 16 million food assistance recipients over six months in 2025, Adi remarked.

He added the rice assistance programme is part of the government's economic policy package and serves as relief aid for low-income groups. The Government continues to refine the database of aid beneficiaries in 2025. Focus is on women who head poor households and elderly individuals who live alone.

The Indonesian Government will use the 2025 Socio-Economic Registration Data from the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas) as the database for rice aid distribution.

The rice assistance programme is also expected to support the Government's poverty alleviation efforts./.

VNA

See more

The forum on ASEAN's role in the Indo-Pacific region and prospects for cooperation with Argentina takes place on September 10 (Photo: VNA)

ASEAN highlights its central role in Indo-Pacific

The Ambassador of Indonesia, the country holding the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN in Argentina, stressed that maintaining peace and stability, along with an open, transparent regional environment based on mutual respect, are fundamental conditions for a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

A street in Bangkok, Thailand. (Illustrative photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Thailand’s business activity shows signs of gradual recovery

As of August 31, Thailand had more than 1 million active legal entities with total registered capital of 24.13 trillion THB. The service sector accounted for the largest share, with 552,830 entities, or 54.48%, followed by wholesale and retail with 332,791 entities (32.79%) and manufacturing with 129,215 (12.73%).

Prime Minister Hun Manet (front row, centre) and Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour (front row, right) visit a garment factory in Preah Sihanouk province. MLVT (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)

Cambodia records 7,458 more enterprises in three years

A Cambodian official said that the growth should not be assessed solely by the number of newly established enterprises and facilities, but also by their contributions to investment, production, job creation and household incomes.

The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) convenes in Manila, the Philippines, on September 9. The Vietnamese delegation is led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang (fifth, left), head of the ASEAN-Vietnam SOM.(Photo: asean.org)

Vietnam calls for stronger ASEAN unity, resilience

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang urged ASEAN to make full use of existing mechanisms to enhance dialogue, build trust and prevent risks and conflicts, particularly by strengthening the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), and cooperation based on international law.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta (Photo: VNA)

Timor-Leste diversifies economy, seeks to attract investment

The President noted Timor-Leste is pursuing sustainable development, stronger regional connectivity and expanded international cooperation while seeking investment opportunities in energy, tourism and emerging economic sectors to reduce its dependence on oil and gas revenues.

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hai Luu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam cooperates with UN to advance gender equality

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hai Luu highlighted Vietnam’s positive achievements in promoting gender equality, noting that 13 of the 20 targets under the national strategy on gender equality had been met or exceeded by 2025.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 9, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Russian public, experts praise top Vietnamese leader’s visit

Positive reactions to General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit have reaffirmed Vietnam’s steady foreign policy amid global changes, while highlighting the enduring trust and friendship between Vietnam and Russia, which are working together to create new breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation.

Thailand eases rules for foreign enterprises

Thailand eases rules for foreign enterprises

The regulatory adjustment is part of Thailand's efforts to simplify regulations governing foreign business operations and clarify licensing requirements, while simultaneously fostering economic development and enhancing the country's international competitiveness.