Prabowo: Free Meal Program Spurs Village Economies, Benefits 36.7 Million People and 18,895 SMEs
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto says the Free Nutritious Meals program has become a real driver of local economic activity at the village, subdistrict, and regency levels. Less than a year since its launch, the initiative has not only ensured adequate nutrition for tens of millions of children and mothers but also engaged 18,895 small businesses and cooperatives across Indonesia.
Prabowo made the statement while delivering his remarks at a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, Oct 20, 2025.
He reported that the Free Nutritious Meals program, known by its Indonesian acronym MBG, has now reached more than 36.7 million beneficiaries, equivalent to roughly six times the population of Singapore. These millions are served by 12,508 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units, or SPPG kitchens, which have collectively produced 1.41 billion meal portions since the program began on Jan 6, 2025.
“Today, the Free Nutritious Meals program has reached 12,508 SPPG kitchens out of our target of 32,000. It means that 1.41 billion meals have been cooked and distributed since January 6. Right now, 36.7 million schoolchildren, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers receive free nutritious meals every day. That is the equivalent of feeding six Singapores daily,” Prabowo said.
The President explained that the program has created a strong multiplier effect in rural economies. Each kitchen employs local residents and sources ingredients from nearby small suppliers. Based on current estimates, MBG is expected to employ about 1.5 million workers when all 30,000 kitchens become operational, with each unit hiring around 50 people.
“We will eventually have 30,000 kitchens. If each employs 50 workers, that is 1.5 million jobs. Every kitchen also works with an average of 15 suppliers who sell eggs, vegetables, and other foodstuffs. Each supplier hires five to ten people. That is the scale of the multiplier effect we are talking about,” Prabowo said.
Beyond employment, the program has fostered a new ecosystem for local economic empowerment, involving nearly 19,000 small enterprises and community cooperatives nationwide.
“The implementation of MBG engages 18,895 small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, and village-owned enterprises that form part of the program’s ecosystem,” he added.
Prabowo also noted that the program has gained international attention, citing recognition from the Rockefeller Institute, which assessed that every dollar spent on the initiative generates an economic return of up to 37 dollars.
“They said that for every one dollar disbursed for this program, the return is between five and thirty-seven dollars. You can imagine how significant the economic impact is,” Prabowo said.