Indonesia Used To Be A World Sugar Exporting Country, Now It's Imported

SOE Minister Erick Thohir (Photo: antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia was once the world's sugar king. In fact, it occupies the second position as the largest sugar exporting country in the world. However, now Indonesia is actually a sugar importer country.

This was conveyed by the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir at the National Sugar Summit 2023, at Waskita Rajawali Tower, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 13.

Erick said the national sugar demand reaches 7 million tons per year, while national sugar production is 2.24 million tons. In fact, it also shrank slightly due to the impact of el nino.

"Of course we have to rethink where are we going in the future? Are we happy as traders only or do we have to shift into industrialists," he said.

"If we look at the journey of humans or from time to time, we did plant, then sell, then become an industry. But how come in Indonesia the set back, we used to be the king, now we are the biggest importers," he said.

In fact, Erick said, when compared to other countries, Indonesia is far behind. He said, Brazil's sugar production reaches 38 million per year. India is not much different at 32 million tons.

"Our neighbor, Thailand is 11 million. It's just like this (Indonesia)," he said.

Therefore, Erick also challenges all parties to unite in realizing self-sufficiency in sugar in 2030. Moreover, he said, it has been stated in road maps or roadmaps that must benefit all parties.

And I hope that we put all of our interests in the middle. We should not continue to be a losing nation, which in the end we will only be a market. I hope we become independent, strong, after all the opportunities are there, and not long until 2038," he said.