Ministry Of Trade Encourages Subsidy For Transportation Costs During Christmas And New Year

Acting Mayor of Palangka Raya, Hera Nugrahayu, released the Subsidy for Transportation Ongkos (SOA) for the Stability of Food Price Supply to retailers in Palangka Raya. BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) is coordinating with the National Food Agency and local governments to encourage subsidies for transportation costs during the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 periods.

The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said this step was taken to maintain supply availability and stability of food prices.

"Subsidies for transportation costs, especially in shallot commodities and chilies, which are currently still sporadic in certain centers," said Zulkifli, quoted by Antara, Tuesday.

Zulkifli said that chili commodities are currently experiencing a downward trend in prices in various retail markets as the harvest begins at the production center.

The Ministry of Trade also ensures smooth distribution during the flow of Christmas and New Year traffic movements by collaborating with the Ministry of Transportation and the Indonesian Police to ensure the smooth distribution of prices for basic goods (bapok).

Especially for commodities whose fulfillment comes from imports, the Ministry of Trade ensures that the management of imports is on time and on the right number in accordance with the coordination between the relevant ministries and institutions.

Zulkifli said the Ministry of Trade intensified distribution through the Maritime Outlets program for Eastern Indonesia, as well as supervising the distribution of basic necessities by involving the Food Task Force to prevent speculation/shopping efforts by business actors ahead and during Christmas and New Year.

"The keywords are cooperation and collaboration. By synergizing with relevant stakeholders, the Government guarantees that the prices and supply of bapok are controlled so that people can smile," he said.

In terms of price stability and food stocks, the Ministry of Trade has intensified monitoring of the availability of supplies and the price development of basic necessities in 679 markets in 503 regencies/cities throughout Indonesia.

Then, encourage cooking oil producers to fulfill their Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) obligations with a proportion of 40 percent of Oilita.

This step aims to ensure the adequacy and stability of domestic cooking oil prices in the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 periods.

The Ministry of Trade is also working with the National Food Agency and Bulog to accelerate the distribution of Food Supply Stabilization and Price (SPHP) rice and Cheap Food Movements in various regions in Indonesia.