Minister Thohir instructs eight SOEs to support free meal program

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir outlined several directives to eight SOEs to contribute to the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.

Speaking at his office in Jakarta on Friday, Thohir affirmed that the Ministry of SOEs is ready to support the work of nutrition service units, managed by the National Nutrition Agency, in distributing nutritious foods in various regions.

He made assurance that eight SOEs -- BRI, BNI, Bank Mandiri, Telkomsel, PLN, PGN, ID Survey, and Pupuk Indonesia -- will work to facilitate the implementation of the program aimed at creating a generation of healthy and competitive talents.

In light of this, the minister instructed state-run banks BRI, BNI, and Bank Mandiri to create a loan scheme specifically for businesses that supply the food ingredients required by nutrition service units.

He then drew attention to Telkomsel, urging the state-owned telecommunications company to set up a digital platform that can help ensure the efficiency and transparency of the meal program's implementation.

Thohir then underscored the importance of electricity company PLN preparing reliable electricity infrastructure to supply adequate power to the service units, especially those designed to distribute meals to rural regions.

"Fourth, I demand that PGN (gas firm) prepare urban gas networks to facilitate the nutrition service units in cooking nutritious meals," he remarked.

Furthermore, he called on the state-run surveyor ID Survey to support the issuance of halal and kitchen standard certificates for the service units.

The minister also urged state-owned fertilizer firm Pupuk Indonesia to collaborate with the National Nutrition Agency to boost the program's coverage and effectiveness.

"Assets of SOEs found across Indonesia can be mobilized as strategic means to establish a nutrition service unit. All these efforts are expected to help the nation produce a creative and innovative generation towards (realizing) Golden Indonesia 2045," he stated.