Trade Minister Zulhas Approves Kratom Leaves To Become Export Commodities

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Trade Minister (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said he always supports Indonesia's superior products to be sold to global markets, including krotoms.

According to Zulkifli, herbal plant products such as krotoms are not prohibited from exporting.

As long as it is able to bring benefits to farmers and Indonesia's economic growth, it will agree.

"Americans come, they say they want to buy krotoms or not? I said it could be, it has not been banned. If the use is wrong, it's not our fault," said Zulkifli after opening the Socialization of Permendag 22 and 23 in Jakarta, Thursday.

Kratom is an herbal plant that grows in the Kalimantan region.

These leaves are usually used for tea or processed into supplements, which are useful for helping reduce pain, improving skin health and increasing libido.

However, the side effects of using krotoms are quite dangerous if they are not in accordance with the dose.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) stated that cronatoms have not been regulated in the Narcotics Law so that local government regulations have not been able to limit the use of circumstellar waste.

The rise in the use of krotoms is also marked by the large number of ordinary plant farmers who have turned into frotom farmers because the results of the cultivation of krotoms are considered more promising economically.

However, Zulkifli said, in principle export activities must always be supported to advance Indonesia's trade.

With exports, Indonesia is able to control markets that are not owned by other countries.

Zulhas emphasized that the support of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) is not only focused on one commodity, but also other products that benefit Indonesia.

"In principle, we have to make exports easier because Indonesia, if we want to progress, depending on whether we want to dominate the world market or not, the exports are big or not. If we can't export much, the products can't excel in the global arena, so we can't do anything anymore, continue to buy," said Zulkifli.