The United States Association Invites Indonesia To Cooperate To Develop Kratom As An Export Commodity That Is Beneficial For Health

Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Moeldoko. (Photo: Doc. KSP)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government through the Office of the Presidential Staff (KSP) highly appreciates the offer of cooperation to develop kratom as an export commodity herbal plant that is beneficial for health. This cooperation offer was initiated by the American-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, the American Kratom Association (AKA), and the Anugerah Bumi Hijau Producers Cooperative (KOPRABUH).

Kratom itself is a tropical plant that is commonly found in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. This herbal plant also grows a lot in Kalimantan, especially in the West Kalimantan region.

The people of West Kalimantan have started cultivating plants that can grow in this swamp area since 2010. Currently, the area of kratom land in West Kalimantan is 11,384 hectares with spread over 23 sub-districts and 282 villages. As many as 200,000 families in West Kalimantan Province are very dependent on the kratom industry.

Indonesia itself still does not have regulations on kratom trade and governance. Even so, kratom is one of the export commodities that is quite large and has the potential to bring economic benefits to the country. It is recorded that until July 2021, the number of kratom exports to the United States alone has reached 400 tons.

"Both parties agreed that kratom can lift the economic growth of both countries. Therefore, we agreed to make kratom an export commodity. This is very possible because, in the Minister of Trade Regulation No. 18 of 2021, kratom does not include goods that are prohibited from exporting", said the Head Presidential Staff Dr. Moeldoko in a meeting with representatives from the United States, at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Monday, August 8.

Even so, Moeldoko does not deny that there are still differences of opinion about kratom mainly because the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) still categorizes kratom as an addictive substance.

"There needs to be joint research between educational institutions in the United States and Indonesia. The reason is that the US, especially Johns Hopkins University, has been conducting research on kratom for a long time. Meanwhile, Indonesia has the goods. Hopefully, this research collaboration will be beneficial for the world", added Moeldoko.

Meanwhile, also attending the meeting was Senator Curt Bramble from the state of Utah. He stated that Kratom has become an important commodity in the United States as one of the drugs that can reduce pain and reduce anxiety disorders, a highly addictive substitute for opium.

"Kratom is a safe natural product, but the challenge is that kratom is often contaminated with E. Coli bacteria, Salmonella, and heavy metals. So I hope from this meeting, we will get the same understanding of kratom. Furthermore, I hope there will be regulations to guarantee the safety of kratom that will be exported to the United States", said Curt Bramble.