Indonesian Government Doubles Budget for Free Meal Program

Indonesian Government Doubles Budget for Free Meal Program
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According to an article from Xinhua News Agency, the Indonesian government is planning to nearly double the budget for President Prabowo Subianto’s free nutritious meal program in 2026. The budget is set to increase from 171 trillion rupiahs (approximately 10.56 billion U.S. dollars) to over 300 trillion rupiahs (about 18.52 billion U.S. dollars). This expansion is intended to benefit 82.9 million people.

The program’s goals, as announced by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, include improving the health and intelligence of its beneficiaries, stimulating the economy, and creating jobs. The government expects the program to strengthen economic resilience by reducing household expenses and stabilizing food prices through direct purchases from smallholder farmers.