The Gayo Coffee Export Couple Government, Called Black Gold That Brings Foreign Exchange

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Finance)

JAKARTA - The government through the Directorate of State Assets of the Ministry of Finance of the Aceh Regional Office continues to strive to increase exports of gayo coffee in order to increase state revenues in foreign currencies.

Most recently, the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI)/Indonesia Eximbank has recorded positive results in early 2023 with the inauguration of the Gayo Coffee Foreign Exchange Village in Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh.

LPEI Managing Director for Finance and Operations Agus Windiarto said the Foreign Exchange Village has comprehensive assistance facilities for the farmer community to increase the capacity of superior commodities.

"We hope that the benefits can be directly felt by farmers so that they can produce coffee products with a high taste and also have international standard quality," he said in a press release today, Wednesday, January 18.

According to Agus, his party facilitated around 125 farmers who took shelter in the Panca Gayo Coffee Cooperative by providing training and assistance from experts in the field of coffee.

"As a special mission vehicle under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, we are ready to support the export of business actors to further contribute to the national economy," he said.

On the same occasion, the Director General of State Assets of the Ministry of Finance Rionald Silaban revealed that gayo coffee is like black gold which has high economic value.

He said, the inauguration of Foreign Exchange Villages also increases the ability to achieve better socio-economic conditions, compared to the previous conditions.

"We represent the central government to express our highest appreciation for this excellent synergy and achievement. We hope that the existing cooperation can contribute to increasing exports and sustainable foreign exchange income," said Rionald.

Meanwhile, Bener Meriah Regent Hairi Yoga stated that his party was confident that the Foreign Exchange Village program could overcome various challenges in the field.

"We all hope that sustainable production, distribution, and commodity transaction activities can encourage economic, social and environmental potential in the Aceh region," he said.

Based on data obtained from the IEB Institute, the picture of Indonesia's coffee export shows a positive trend last year.

It was recorded that throughout January to August 2022, coffee exports posted a figure of 698.1 million US dollars, an increase of 45.5 percent year on year (yoy).

Meanwhile, Aceh province itself is one of the largest coffee centers with total production in 2020 reaching 73,420 tons or about 10 percent of total national production. Among the mainstays are gayo coffee which is one of the best varieties in the world.