Jakarta, June 28 -- The National Economic Council (DEN) stated that social aid allocated by the government is an investment aimed at achieving a stronger and more inclusive economy.

"People often say that social aid is just an expense. Instead, social aid is an investment-an investment to achieve future growth, or even growth itself," DEN member Arief Anshory Yusuf stated in a discussion here on Saturday.

Yusuf noted that social aid aligns with Prabowo's Astacita, as it highlights people's welfare as its focus.

Moreover, the government is pursuing other measures to ensure welfare, such as the free nutritious meal program, economic deregulation, and a second-quarter stimulus package.

In the same statement, the Finance Ministry's direct...