Aceh, 24 February, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency is enhancing the skills of chefs involved in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program through the Masak Bersama Master (MASAMO) initiative. Minister of Creative Economy / Head of the Creative Economy Agency Teuku Riefky Harsya directly reviewed the activity to ensure that the national priority program runs optimally while supporting sustainable strategic partnerships for innovation in taste, the quality of nutritious meals, and the standardization of MBG kitchens.
The Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, reviewed the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) Lampeude Baroh 2 as part of the collaboration under the Creative Economy Program Masak Bersama Master (MASAMO) to support the President’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program, Aceh, Tuesday (2/24/2026).
“The Ministry of Creative Economy has been assigned to support chefs in developing additional capabilities to enhance menu variety, including traditional Acehnese cuisine. At the national level, the MASAMO Program is expected to foster a people-centered economy, which will have a positive impact on employment opportunities and further advance the creative economy ecosystem in Aceh,” said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky at the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) Lampeude Baroh 2, Pidie, Aceh, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
The MASAMO initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Creative Economy, the Aceh Provincial Government, the Pidie Regency Government, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), SPPG managers and chefs, as well as MASAMO program trainers, all of whom are committed to fostering a sense of shared comfort while ensuring that the benefits of the MBG program are accessible to communities across various regions.
Doc. Bureau for Communication Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
A total of 51 chefs representing each SPPG unit in Pidie showed strong enthusiasm for the continuous training aimed at improving competencies in hygiene standards, safe food processing, and consistency in the quality of nutritious meal preparation. The training materials included food safety sessions led directly by Chef Norman Ismail.
Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky welcomed the focus of the local government, which has actively implemented structured and sustainable nutrition assistance programs. This aligns with the mission of the MBG Program as a national priority, serving as an innovative approach to accelerating the reduction of stunting.
“The MBG Program reflects the noble vision of the President in providing proper nutrition for Indonesia’s golden generation. This is an investment in human resources and an effort to eliminate stunting, so that the benefits can be directly felt through the circulation of the regional economy and, of course, for the future of Indonesia’s children,” explained Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky.
Doc. Bureau for Communication Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
Behind the implementation of the MBG Program, the Ministry of Creative Economy plays a vital role in ensuring nutritional quality, menu variety and taste, kitchen hygiene standards, food presentation, as well as direct mentoring with MasterChefs in accordance with the standards of the National Nutrition Agency. Moreover, the culinary subsector is one of the priority subsectors among the 17 creative economy subsectors in Indonesia, contributing to the empowerment of local economies and regional MSMEs.
Nationally, the MBG Program has reached approximately 65 million beneficiaries through more than 21,897 SPPG units. This year’s target is to reach over 83 million beneficiaries through more than 36,600 SPPG units across Indonesia. Therefore, the MASAMO initiative is expected to be well received and deliver optimal impact for the regional creative economy ecosystem.
Doc. Bureau for Communication Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
“The MASAMO Program is an initiative of the Ministry of Creative Economy aimed at strengthening the culinary subsector, making it a key component in supporting the success of national priority programs to drive the revival of the creative industry based on intellectual property across all regions as a new engine of national economic growth. We, from the Pidie Regency Government, fully support the MBG and MASAMO programs through direct mentoring alongside MasterChefs,” said Vice Regent of Pidie, Alzaizi Umar.
In addition to the launch of the MASAMO Program, the event continued with the symbolic handover of chef uniform sets in the form of aprons and white hats, along with certificates for SPPG representatives. The event concluded with a cooking demonstration by MasterChef Indonesia judge Norman Ismail.
Doc. Bureau for Communication Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
The Ministry of Creative Economy consistently supports the MBG Program, which is not merely a policy but a moral mandate of the nation—a promise that every Indonesian child has the right to a healthier life and a future filled with strong hope.
Doc. Bureau for Communication Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
During the review at SPPG Pidie, Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya was accompanied by Special Staff to the Minister for Strategic and Inter-Institutional Issues Rian Syaf, Director of Culinary Andy Ruswar, as well as Ministerial Expert Staff Panji Purboyo. Also present at the event were Head of the Aceh Tourism, Youth, and Sports Office Edy Saputra, Head of SPPG Lampeude Baroh 2 Renaldy Saputra, and members of the Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRD).
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
