He invited a number of Indonesian tycoons, including Anthony Salim, Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan, Prajogo Pangestu, Garibaldi Thohir, Franky Widjaja, Dato Sri Tahir, James Riady, and Tomy Winata, to the Presidential Palace on Friday to discuss potential support for the program.
"The President asked for strong collaboration between the government and the business community in increasing the production and distribution of nutritious food to support the government's program to overcome malnutrition, improve educational achievement, and improve children's health conditions," Spokesperson for the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Dedek Prayudi said.
During the meeting, Prabowo guaranteed the sustainability of the free meals program, which is targeting school children, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
According to Prayudi, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is continuing to expand its service coverage by adding nutritional fulfillment service units (SPPG) or kitchens in all provinces.
The kitchens, which are currently spread across 38 provinces, have served more than 2 million beneficiaries so far.
"We hope that in the next three months, or entering April (2025), the SPPG expansion can be maximized until the target of 3 million beneficiaries is achieved," he said.
He further emphasized that President Prabowo is confident that by the end of 2025, all Indonesian children will be covered by the free meals program.
Therefore, he said, mutual cooperation is needed to ensure that the target is achieved, especially the addition of kitchens in various regions to further accelerate the goal.
"This is important so every Indonesian child has access to nutritious food," he added.
Related news: Indonesian gov't plans regulation to articulate roles in MBG program
Related news: MBG: Ministry starts providing milk from cooperatives
Translator: Genta Tenri Mawangi, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
