Indonesia prepares plan to widen small-business role in free meals
More than 68,000 micro, small and medium enterprises already supply ingredients to programme kitchens, according to MSMEs Minister Maman Abdurrahman.
Indonesia is developing a scheme to bring more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into the supply chain for its Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, MSMEs Minister Maman Abdurrahman said in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Maman said more than 68,000 MSMEs already provide ingredients, including eggs and other produce, to kitchens serving the programme across Indonesia. The suppliers are registered local producers operating in their respective regions. He said the ministry saw scope for further participation beyond its initial target of 68,000 businesses.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN), led by Sudaryono, is being restructured internally and will collaborate with the ministry, Maman said. The ministry is preparing its approach alongside those changes to support the meal programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo has instructed cabinet members to focus on the grassroots economy. Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs data for 2024 put Indonesia's MSME population at 64.2 million businesses, representing roughly 99.99 per cent of the country's enterprises.
