New York, Sept. 24 -- Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto awarded an honorary distinction to Microsoft founder and global philanthropist Bill Gates, recognizing his longstanding contributions to Indonesia.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to present this honorary award to Bill Gates," Prabowo said following their meeting at a hotel in New York on Tuesday.

He praised Gates for his extensive support to the country, particularly in research, the development of high-quality seeds, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines.

According to Prabowo, Gates' direct assistance to Indonesia is valued at around Rp7 to Rp8 trillion (about US$500 million), while the broader impact of his contributions is estimated at US$4.5 billion.

The president ...