President Prabowo Subianto has set an ambitious goal to expand the Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis / MBG) to reach 82.9 million children throughout Indonesia by the end of 2025. The announcement was made during the 27th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at the Jakarta Convention Center. Prabowo emphasized the importance and urgency of this initiative becoming a national priority.
During his speech, Prabowo shared a touching experience from his recent visit to Central Java, where the demand for the program was evident. He recounted how schoolchildren along the road were asking for nutritious meals even before school had started for the day. This encounter prompted Prabowo to instruct his team to accelerate the program’s implementation, aiming to reach 20 million children by mid-August and eventually 82.9 million children by December 2025.
The President highlighted that this initiative has attracted global attention, with other nations closely monitoring the progress of the program. Despite the challenges of managing public funds and resources efficiently, Prabowo expressed optimism that Indonesia can achieve what took others over a decade to accomplish in a much shorter time frame.
Prabowo also acknowledged the need for tangible results to back up his ambitious goals, inviting accountability for the program’s success. The Free Nutritious Meal Program is part of Prabowo’s broader vision to address child hunger, malnutrition, and learning disparities, aiming to provide every child with the necessary support to thrive.
