Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto voiced appreciation to all parties involved in implementing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program nationwide, citing their contributions to improving human resource quality for the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

“Thank you for serving from remote and hard-to-reach places. Thank you for your dedication and loyalty,” he remarked, as quoted in a Presidential Secretariat statement in Jakarta.

He expressed gratitude to MBG stakeholders at an event titled “Building Indonesia’s Future Generations Through Nutrition” at Sentul International Convention Center in Bogor District, West Java, on Wednesday.

The forum gathered 12,173 people, including leaders of nutrition fulfillment service offices (KPPG), regional coordinators for nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG), SPPG chiefs, and MBG partners from across the country.

SPPGs serve as kitchens producing and distributing MBG to schoolchildren, breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and children under five.

National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Head Nanik Sudaryati Deyang confirmed that the participants represent the agency’s central and local work units assigned to carry out the program.

“They include 20 KPPGs that oversee nutrition fulfillment services from Sabang to Merauke, led by civil servants. Also present were SPPG regional coordinators from across Indonesia,” she said.

Deyang added that participants from Jakarta, West Java, and Banten attended in person, noting that the conference also drew 5,873 MBG partners.

The national event reflected the government’s efforts to strengthen coordination and align steps among all MBG executors in pursuit of effective, sustainable, and beneficial implementation.

President Prabowo was accompanied by several cabinet members, including Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan and State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi.

As a flagship program, MBG has covered more than 62 million people across Indonesia since its launch in January 2025, supported by over 29,000 SPPGs.

The government envisions MBG outcomes extending beyond enhanced human capital, aiming for job creation and economic growth through the involvement of local workers, farmers, fishermen, and businesses.

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