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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- RI President Prabowo Subianto said that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has had a big impact on the national economy. MBG, according to the Head of State, will create 1.5 million new jobs that are expected to be absorbed by January-February 2026.
President Prabowo confirmed that MBG also managed to create a market for the people's economy. Because, the crops of farmers and ranchers are absorbed through the need for raw materials for MBG. It ranges from rice, eggs, vegetables, to various sources of animal protein.
“It turns out that with this nutritious meal we can create, at the beginning of next year, January-February, 1.5 million new jobs. We have succeeded in reviving the people's economy,” President Prabowo said in a speech at the VI National Consultation event of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) at The Sultan Hotel & Residence, Jakarta, Monday (29/9/2025).
The president detailed that the government is allocating a budget of almost IDR 335 trillion or about 20 billion US dollars next year. It was to support the smooth running of MBG.
According to the Head of State, the funds will flow to the villages. This was considered a breakthrough from the previous one concentrated only in large cities.
“For some twenty years money from the region flowed to Jakarta, and in Jakarta it often flowed abroad, settled abroad and did not live in Indonesia. We are turning back now, money is going into the villages,” Prabowo said.
As for the 11 months since MBG was launched in February 2025, the program has reached nearly 30 million beneficiaries. This cost a budget of about IDR 300 trillion.
The Head of State said that this government program not only provides direct benefits to children and pregnant women, but also promotes the economic growth of the people to the level of the village.
“In 11 months we have proved that with good faith, with good purpose, with a sincere heart, with love of the Motherland and love of the people, we can do much. We have saved at least IDR 300 trillion. This is IDR 300 trillion that we spend on Free Nutritious Eating,” the President said.
Prabowo acknowledged that there were still challenges on the ground, including cases of food poisoning. However, he said, the number of cases was very small compared to the scale of the program.
President Prabowo noted that the deviation rate in the MBG program was 0.00017 percent of the entire distribution.
Regardless of the numbers, the President continued, the government's ambition to create Indonesia Gold generation through MBG is a big undertaking. In fact, this work has never been implemented by outside countries.
For example, it took Brazil 11 years to reach a free meal program to 40 million beneficiaries. As for Indonesia, Prabowo explained, the same program has been able to reach 30 million beneficiaries in less than a year.
“Any shortage? Ada. But the benefits are very-enormous. Many elites do not realize that there are still our people who eat rice only with salt. Now, we can give them something they need,” Prabowo said.
sumber : Antara
