Indonesia's free meals drive leaves remote kitchen investors deep in debt

He’s impatient, erratic and scaring investors. It’s not Trump

A volatile president has introduced drastic reforms to fix a perceived crisis. No, this is not the US under its current leader, but Indonesia under Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia's free meals drive leaves remote kitchen investors deep in debt

Loan sharks are circling a kitchen that stands on stilts above the waters of Tomini Bay, off the coast of Indonesia's Sulawesi island in the remote fishing village of Torosiaje.

Indonesia’s flagship free meals initiative leaves kitchen investors deep in debt

Mounting debts are the latest blow for an initiative that has struggled with governance, supply chain problems, mass food-poisoning and financial cutbacks.

Indonesia’s free meals drive leaves remote kitchen investors deep in debt

Initial guidelines promised investors returns of 120% above upfront costs over four years, but around 700 government-contracted remote kitchens are still awaiting repayment.