Deputy Minister Of Trade Confident That Cooking Oil Subsidy Debt Will Be Completed Before August 2023

Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga is optimistic that the issue of debt repayment of the difference in cooking oil price (Rafaction) subsidies worth Rp. 344 billion will be completed before August 2023.

For your information, this Rp344 billion debt comes from the difference in the economic price of cooking oil at a selling price when the government decided to sell cooking oil at a price of Rp. 14,000 per liter in early 2022.

The Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) also gave a deadline for the completion of this faction for 2-3 months, meaning that there is a deadline in August 2023. Otherwise, retailers will take legal action.

"I'm sure there will be a point before August, right, there will still be May, June, July. Before that, it can be finished," he told reporters, in Jakarta, Monday, May 8.

Jerry believes that the problem of paying debts for the difference in cooking oil subsidies can be resolved. The reason is, the Ministry of Trade has established communication with retail entrepreneurs.

Therefore, Jerry is optimistic that the problem of the debt difference in cooking oil of Rp. 344 billion can be completed before August 2023.

On the other hand, Jerry assessed that this problem concerns not only retailers and the Ministry of Trade, but also the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS).

"We have communicated with Aprindi several times and the spirit is the same, prioritizing national interests, no party is harmed," he said.