After Monitoring Basic Needs Prices In Cibinong Market, Trade Minister Zulhas Admits He Has Successfully Controlled Cooking Oil Prices

Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - After monitoring the prices of necessities at the Cibinong Market, Bogor Regency, West Java, Friday, July 22, the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, said he had succeeded in controlling the price of cooking oil.

"For cooking oil, that's fine. Bulk cooking oil is everywhere, even in Java-Bali, it's already under IDR 15,000, on average between IDR 13,000 to IDR 13.5 thousand (per liter). For IDR 14,000, he usually uses bottles", said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, quoted by Antara.

According to him, the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) together with related parties have sought various ways to control the price of both bulk cooking oil and packaged cooking oil.

"We were ordered by President Joko Widodo to abolish some levies or export taxes and others to stabilize cooking oil prices and others", said Minister Zulkifli.

Trade Minister Zulkifli said shortly he would meet with several businessmen to maximize the control of cooking oil prices, both bulk and packaged, especially in eastern Indonesia.

"Although it is not easy, we hope that they (entrepreneurs) will commit and sign a gentlemen agreement", said the Minister of Trade.

In addition to monitoring the price of cooking oil, the Trade Minister also noticed a decrease in the prices of several basic commodities when he visited the Cibinong Market. Commodities that experienced a significant decline in prices, such as chili and shallots.

"If it's red onions that have dropped a lot, which was IDR 70 thousand to IDR 40,000 (per kilogram), we will see for ourselves, right. Chili from IDR 150 thousand is now only IDR 70 thousand, curly chili is IDR 80 thousand, it has decreased a lot", he explained.