President Targets 8% Economic Growth, Strategy from Free Nutritious Meals to People's Housing

The government under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership targets national economic growth of 8 per cent through job creation via various strategic programmes, from Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) to the construction of people’s housing. Citing the Indonesian Government’s Communication Agency in Jakarta on Sunday, the MBG programme is assessed to have a significant impact on job creation with a target of around 30,000 kitchens, each employing 50 people, thus potentially absorbing about 1.5 million workers. “That’s already 1.5 million,” said Prabowo. In addition, each kitchen will involve supply chains from food vendors, estimated to absorb an additional up to 1.5 million workers. Besides the MBG programme, the government has also rolled out several initiatives to expand workforce absorption through the Village Red and White Cooperatives, Red and White Fisherman Villages, and the construction of one million houses. The Village Red and White Cooperatives are relied upon as drivers of village economies with a target of forming 80,000 cooperatives and an estimate of 18 workers per unit. That programme has the potential to create around 1.4 million new jobs. In the maritime sector, the Red and White Fisherman Villages are focused on increasing productivity and the welfare of fishermen, with a target of developing up to 1,100 fisherman villages by 2026. “We’re making a pilot project in Biak, the fishermen’s income there has risen on average by 60 per cent to 80 per cent,” said Prabowo. Meanwhile, the one million houses construction programme is said to be one of the biggest engines of job creation. Each housing unit is estimated to involve five workers, so the total could absorb up to five million workers, not including the ripple effects from supporting sectors such as building materials and utilities. Prabowo stated that he is optimistic that the overall programmes can drive national economic growth beyond the set target. “I am confident that when this runs, it will be more than 8 per cent,” he said.