MBG Program And 3 Million Houses Are Hopes To Achieve The 2025 Economic Growth Target

JAKARTA - Presidential Special Advisor for Economic Affairs Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program and the construction of three million houses for low-income people are the hope for national economic growth in 2025.

He said that given the world's conditions that are still filled with uncertainty this year, there is not much that can be expected from the global economy to encourage domestic growth.

"Indeed, from the global (economic) side, we can't expect much. Well, that means that if the global is not much expected, we will run (hopefully) to the local or domestic (economic)," said Bambang Brodjonegoro, in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, February 4.

He stated that the Free Nutrition Food program and the construction of three million houses for low-income people can have a multiplier effect that can drive national economic growth and equity.

"The important thing is that these two programs must be seen executed this year, because if they can be carried out this year with relatively better executions, there will be a multiplier effect," he also said.

Bambang said that the Free Nutrition Food program could be a driving engine for the local economy by using food from local producers, while the National Nutrition Agency and related officials acted as supervisory agencies.

He said strict supervision was needed to maintain the quality and standardization of the implementation of the program in order to prevent unwanted incidents, such as food poisoning.

"There is still (supervision) because it's called standard (operational), especially in food. There is only one person poisoned or stomach pain that can be a big issue. It is very important to ensure that this Free Nutrition Food can drive the economy at the local level," he said.

Regarding the housing development program of 3 million, Bambang said that the program could be a hope for national economic growth by 2025, because the property sector is a sector that can have the widest and most equitable economic impact.

"Since I was at UI (Indonesian University) I am still active as a researcher and lecturer, we often analyze what sectors in this republic provide the biggest multiplier effect, it turns out that the results are in the property sector, meaning that the construction sector is especially related to buildings," he said again.

He said that this was because the property sector involved many other economic sectors, including logistics, manufacturing industry, metal industry, and construction services, and could provide benefits to every layer of business actors involved.

"So if the government can execute any (realization of houses built) from this cheap home program or houses for the people, it will be very helpful, at least it can contribute to (economic) growth in 2025," said Bambang.