"The MBG will boost economic growth because it creates more jobs and opens new opportunities for food and beverage businesses," he told ANTARA through a text message on Wednesday.
According to Hindayana, the program is positioned as the main driver in strengthening the local food production and distribution ecosystem.
Hindayana also highlighted the free meals program's ability to create a positive domino effect on the economy and encourage regional productivity.
"This program implementation spurs economic turnover so that it will encourage overall regional productivity," he stated.
He further affirmed that the program represents government intervention aimed at improving people's living standards as optimal nutritional fulfillment at an early age will help children grow and develop optimally, ultimately contributing to improving the quality of human resources in Indonesia.
With its positive potential and impact, the MBG program is expected to be a strategic step that can bring concrete change to public health and national economic strengthening.
At the National Economic Forum in Jakarta on Tuesday, Hindayana stated that the BGN is targeting to use Rp1 trillion (around US$59.1 million) per day to serve 82.9 million beneficiaries under the free meals program in November 2025.
The Indonesian government officially launched the Free Nutritious Meals Program on January 6, 2025, as one of the main programs of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka for their 2024–2029 term.
Through the program, the government aims to improve the nutritional intake of children under five, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and schoolchildren up to high school level.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
