President Prabowo Subianto recently announced an ambitious target to expand the Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis / MBG) to reach 82.9 million children across Indonesia by the end of 2025. This initiative has been declared a national priority and urgent matter. During the 27th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at the Jakarta Convention Center, Prabowo shared a touching experience from his visit to Central Java where he witnessed the overwhelming demand for the program.
While traveling from Solo to Klaten, Prabowo encountered schoolchildren and community members passionately requesting for nutritious meals. The emotional encounter inspired him to instruct his team to accelerate program implementation with a target of reaching 20 million children by mid-August. The President emphasized the importance of ensuring that every cent of public funds allocated to the program is properly accounted for and managed.
Prabowo expressed his optimism in achieving the target of 82.9 million beneficiaries by December 2025, a goal that has already captured global attention. He mentioned that other nations are closely observing Indonesia’s efforts, with some countries even considering sending teams to learn from the program. Despite the ambitious target, Prabowo highlighted the importance of delivering tangible results to match the optimism expressed.
The Free Nutritious Meal Program is part of Prabowo’s broader vision to address child hunger, malnutrition, and educational disparities by providing every child, regardless of background, with the necessary nutrition to thrive. The President’s commitment to this cause has garnered significant support and interest both locally and internationally.
