JAKARTA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has set aside 335 trillion rupiah (around 19.8 billion U.S. dollars) for its free meal program (MBG) this year, underlining its role as a national initiative to improve child nutrition while also bolstering economic growth.

Launched in January 2025, MBG provides free nutritious meals to students, as well as to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers from low-income families, to help tackle stunting.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on Tuesday said the funding will be sourced from the state budget, ensuring the program's implementation remains secure, sustainable, and well-measured.

The allocation is designed to support the target beneficiaries of around 82 million people across the country in 2026.

The senior minister also highlighted that the MBG program's operational structure, in which nutrition fulfillment service units preparing the meals are paid upfront, is expected to boost cash flows, strengthen grassroots economies, and support local enterprises.

"So, if this program reaches the grassroots level with 80 trillion rupiah, it will certainly have an impact on economic growth," Airlangga said on the sidelines of the Road to Jakarta Food Security Summit.

He explained that regularly channeling such a large amount of funds to communities is expected to significantly boost national economic growth by driving consumption, production, and job creation.

The minister further noted that the program could employ millions of workers while stimulating broader economic activity across the country. ■