President Prabowo Subianto has declared an ambitious goal to expand the Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis / MBG) to cover 82.9 million children throughout Indonesia by the end of 2025. During the 27th anniversary celebration of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at the Jakarta Convention Center, he emphasized the national importance and urgency of this initiative. Prabowo recounted a touching experience during a recent visit to Central Java, where he witnessed the overwhelming demand for the program from schoolchildren, teachers, and local residents. Touched by this encounter, he immediately instructed his team to accelerate the program’s implementation, with a target of reaching 20 million children by mid-August. The President’s ultimate goal is to ensure that 82.9 million children benefit from the program by December 2025.
Prabowo highlighted that this effort has attracted global attention, with world leaders expressing interest and some even planning to send teams to learn from Indonesia’s approach. He noted that while other countries took over a decade to reach similar milestones, Indonesia is committed to achieving it within a shorter timeframe. Despite his optimism, Prabowo emphasized the importance of delivering tangible results and accountability. The Free Nutritious Meal Program is a key component of Prabowo’s broader vision to address child hunger, malnutrition, and educational disparities, ensuring that every child has the necessary nutrition to thrive and succeed.
