Jakarta. The Financial Services Authority or OJK, has reaffirmed its commitment to fully support various government priority programs, particularly those aimed at strengthening the national economy and improving public welfare.

Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioners, Mahendra Siregar, said during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday that the OJK, along with financial services industry players in the banking and capital market sectors, is currently finalizing a financing scheme to support the implementation of the free nutritious meal program for students. This program is one of the government’s flagship initiatives to enhance the quality of human resources.

“We fully support the government's sharpened focus and priorities on industries and sectors that will receive greater attention moving forward. At present, the banking and capital market sectors are finalizing the financing scheme that can be provided to support the operational implementation of this free nutritious meal program,” said Mahendra.

He explained that the designed financing scheme includes operational expenditure (OPEX) financing, refinancing, and future capacity-building (APEX) financing. With this support, it is expected that the free nutritious meal program can be accelerated and expanded so that the government's set targets can be achieved in the near future.

“We believe that the implementation, the realization, can begin shortly,” Mahendra added.

Driving Rural Economies Through Cooperatives
Furthermore, OJK also emphasized its support for the Red and White Village Cooperative program, which is part of the government's efforts to build rural economic independence and strengthen the resilience of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.

OJK is currently participating in the initial phase of the program’s implementation, focusing on strengthening financing and financial intermediation aspects. In this context, OJK encourages banks and other financial institutions to actively develop inclusive, effective, and sustainable financing schemes for village cooperatives.

“We welcome this program, which provides greater opportunities to boost rural economies and support the MSME sector. We are involved in the ongoing pilot program and have a good understanding of the financing and intermediation schemes that can be carried out by the financial sector,” Mahendra explained.

According to him, OJK’s support is not only technical but also strategic, ensuring that village cooperatives have adequate access to financing and are integrated into the formal financial system. Through synergy with the government and industry players, village cooperatives are expected to become drivers of local economic growth, enhance financial inclusion, and reduce development disparities between regions.