Jakarta, Aug. 13 -- Deputy for Investment Promotion at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, Nurul Ichwan, stated that Indonesia's economy grew by 5.12 percent, a growth attributed to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.

"The free lunches, which have extraordinary value, have entered the market, and in fact, they are turning the wheels of the economy, contributing to economic growth," Ichwan remarked at the BKPM office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to Ichwan, the MBG program has successfully shifted state spending from funding ministries and institutions' activities to market spending to provide food for children.

The deputy noted that the MBG program is an initiative by President Prabowo Subianto to combat corrup...