Prabowo touts MBG, anti-corruption drive at US business forum

Speaking to US business leaders on Wednesday (18 February) local time, the president affirmed that under his command, the Indonesian government is committed to delivering tangible public benefits while fostering a stable, trustworthy investment climate.

“The MBG programme stems from my study of American and European experiences. I see it as part of democratisation, ensuring education and health services are directly accessible to the people,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo further stressed that the MBG programme extends beyond improving the nutritional intake of children nationwide, saying it is equally aimed at driving economic growth.

He noted the government had set up about 23,000 MBG kitchens across the country, each employing around 50 workers, offering mothers in particular a chance to earn income for their families.

The programme, which reached more than 60 million people in its first year, has also benefited the agricultural and livestock sectors, with kitchens absorbing eggs, meat, vegetables, and other produce from local farmers and breeders.

Beyond the human development-oriented programme, Prabowo spotlighted Danantara as Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund and investment management agency created to strengthen national industries under the downstreaming agenda.

“We have consolidated all state assets into this investment agency in a bid to support industrial downstreaming,” he said.

While the government is making all-out efforts to push equitable development nationwide, he acknowledged that Indonesia is facing persistent challenges, citing governance issues, corruption, weak institutions, smuggling, illegal mining and fishing, and forest encroachment.

“These are enduring problems that I am determined to confront head-on,” he emphasised.