Trade Minister Zulhas: Stock Of Safe Basic Materials Ahead Of Christmas And New Year

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Finance)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan reiterated that the prices of basic necessities (bapok) are generally stable and safe stocks ahead of the commemoration of the religious holidays of Christmas and New Year.

According to him, together with a number of ministries and local governments, his party is monitoring the movement of bapok prices intensively so that inflation both in the regions and nationally remains under control.

"I have made working visits to various regions to check prices and supplies of basic necessities. In general, the prices of basic necessities are stable and the supply is sufficient," he said in a press statement on Sunday, December 4.

The Trade Minister also ensures that basic necessities will continue to be available. If there is price fluctuation, he continued, the government will immediately act by providing subsidies, both for prices and for logistics costs.

"The government guarantees the availability of basic goods and if there is an increase in prices, they will be immediately subsidized through the local government," said the bureaucrat who is familiarly called Zulhas.

As for the management of import permits for horticultural products, he asked business actors to meet the requirements according to the rules and prioritize imports of commodities that cannot be produced domestically.

"Horticultural products that we can produce do not need to be imported. Prioritize local fruits and vegetables. Fruits that are already in the country do not need to be imported anymore," he said.

Then, the Minister of Trade stated that the government had assigned Bulog to import 300,000 tons of soybeans and would be sold at a price of around Rp. 11,000 per kilogram if the import price was Rp. 12,000 per kilogram.

In addition, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan asked the public not to hesitate to report business actors who do not obey official rules.

"If someone imports it not according to the rules, the public can report it so that we can act decisively," concluded Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.