Prabowo's Free Nutrition And Downstream Food Program Responds Positively To Domestic Industry

Free Nutrition Food (Photo: Antara)

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said that the free nutritious dining program or MBG and downstreaming from President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka received a positive response from the industrial sector.

This condition also affected the increase in the industrial confidence index (IKI) in November 2024 which was at an expansive level.

"The increase in IKI value expansion is also supported by positive responses from the domestic market-oriented industrial sector to President Prabowo Subianto-Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's programs, such as downstreaming industry and free nutritious feeding," said Febri in a written statement, quoted Friday, November 29.

The value of IKI in November 2024 was recorded at 52.95 points, an increase of 0.20 points compared to last October which was 52.75.

Febri said that the increase in IKI in November was supported by the expansion of 21 sub-sectors with a contribution to the GDP of the non-oil and gas manufacturing industry in the second quarter of 2024 of 99.3 percent.

He added that the increase in IKI value this month was also supported by an increase in the expansion of the new order index by 2.58 points to 54.2 and an expansion of the inventory index by 54.68 points.

Even so, the production index in November experienced another contraction, after two months in a row expansion.

The November production index was recorded at 49.72 points or experienced a slowdown of 2.84 points compared to October.

This happened because of the strengthening of the US dollar exchange rate against the rupiah which resulted in an increase in the price of imported raw materials, while producers sold their products in rupiah.

Meanwhile, export-oriented industries are still facing weakening export demand.

"It can be said that IKI in November 2024 will increase due to a fairly high increase in domestic demand, because it is supported by government programs," said Febri.

Furthermore, said Febri, public confidence in the formation of a new government is reflected in the general conditions of business activities in November which were slightly better than the previous month.

He said the proportion of the industry that stated that its business conditions in November 2024 had improved was 30.8 percent. Meanwhile, industries that claimed to have decreased by 22.2 percent.

"Similarly, the view of the business world regarding optimism in the next six months has increased by 0.1 percent compared to the previous month," said Febri.