April 29, 2026 | 04:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto said many countries are learning from Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which the government claims serves more than 60 million beneficiaries on a regular basis.
He said the MBG program also serves as a new economic engine. Through village-level Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), the government acts as a standby buyer (offtaker) to absorb agricultural and fishery products.
The system, he claimed, helps break dependence on middlemen and stabilises prices during harvest seasons, ensuring local producers have a guaranteed market.
On employment, Prabowo said the program is projected to create large-scale jobs. The government plans to build 30,000 MBG kitchens, expected to absorb around 1.5 million workers, as well as activate 81,000 Red and White Cooperatives projected to employ 1.4 million people in logistics sectors.
On financing, the president said the large budget allocation for the program comes from government efficiency measures aimed at reducing financial leakage from corruption.
“This is money we saved from corruption. We hold it back, reallocate it, and channel it to the people. I feel we are on the right path,” he said.
Read: Prabowo Says He Will Make Major Investments in Education
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