Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the business model for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is safe to operate. This program is guaranteed by the State Budget (APBN), which has allocated Rp335 trillion this year. Airlangga assured the business guarantee of MBG before members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) during the "Road to Jakarta Food Security Summit" discussion.

"Earlier, Bapak Anin (Chair of Kadin Anindya Bakrie) stated that the guarantee for the MBG program is safe. The guarantee is the APBN, with an allocation of Rp335 trillion for MBG this year. So, it is secure," he said at the Kadin Indonesia Tower, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

Airlangga also noted that the business model for the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), or MBG kitchen, is prospective. It utilizes an advance payment system before production, ensuring stable cash flow. "So, the cash flow is actually good, from our monitoring, those who have established one service unit want to create the second one, and so on," he said.v

He added that interest is high across various regions. In Lamongan, East Java, the community cooperatively established an SPBG.

The government believes this program will drive the economy. Airlangga explained that if the Rp335 trillion for 2026 is divided quarterly, it reaches nearly Rp80 trillion. This value exceeds the stimulus provided in the first quarter of last year, which was around Rp37 trillion.

Through these APBN funds, the government hopes to open economic opportunities for the public. "So, if this program is launched at the grassroots level, Rp80 trillion will certainly have an effect on economic growth."

The 2026 budget for MBG aims to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries. This year's fund of Rp335 trillion is a significant increase from the 2025 allocation of Rp71 trillion.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance reported that the MBG budget realization as of December 31, 2025, reached only 72.5 percent of the target. From the Rp71 trillion allocated, only Rp51 trillion was absorbed last year.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2080233/airlangga-free-meal-business-model-secure-with-rp335t