Collaboration of All Parties is Key to the Success of the Free Nutritious Meal Program
Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) emphasized the importance of the role of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) in making the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program a success.
“Kadin has two main roles in this program, namely as a partner in infrastructure development and in fostering the supply chain, the needs of which are very large,” said the Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana.
He hopes that Kadin can help accelerate the development of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchen, which is one of the main factors in the success of this program, in addition to the budget and human resources.
The MBG program is a strategy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, to prepare superior human resources towards Indonesia Emas 2045. “We hope that Kadin administrators throughout Indonesia can actively participate in making this program a success so that it runs smoothly,” added Dadan.
Dadan together with the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anindya Novyan Bakrie, signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding synergy in fulfilling national nutrition. This agreement includes support for the implementation of MBG, socialization to Kadin members, increasing human resource capacity, and other cooperation.
Anindya emphasized that this program will bring benefits to the regions, especially in the downstreaming of the food sector, such as the production of chili, corn, rice, and animal protein.
Kadin is also committed to building 100 SPPG kitchens before August 17, 2025, in line with the four main initiatives of “Quick Win”. By increasing the number of SPPGs from 11 thousand to 30 thousand, he encouraged the involvement of entrepreneurs in supplying food ingredients.
Meanwhile, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) also strengthened support for MBG by increasing supervision of fresh food safety. The Head of Bapanas, Arief Prasetyo Adi, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the government and business actors in ensuring that food consumed by the public is safe and of high quality.
“Food safety is a shared responsibility. All parties must ensure that food consumed by the public meets the established standards,” said Arief.
The MBG, which was launched earlier this year, aims to overcome malnutrition and stunting and improve maternal and child health. The initial phase of the program targets 19.5 million beneficiaries with the distribution of nutritious food such as rice, vegetables, chicken, and milk.
As a strengthening measure, Bapanas monitors SPPGs and ensures the implementation of food hygiene and safety standards. Several SPPGs have implemented adequate storage facilities and standard procedures in handling food.
