Launching Nusakita, Erick Thohir: Self-Sufficiency In Consumption Of Sugar Must Be Realized

SOE Minister Erick Thohir/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir stressed that self-sufficiency in sugar consumption must be carried out and carried out despite facing many challenges.

"The road map has been presented, how we must be self-sufficient in consumption of sugar in the future. This is a lot of challenges and surely many will not like it, but Lillahi Ta'ala we must run," said Erick Thohir at the launch of the national product brand Nusakita online, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, August 17th.

The establishment of the Sugar Company or SugarCo sugar mill holding which is in accordance with the targets directed by President Joko Widodo. Jokowi reminded about the need to return to the backbone of PTPN by not leaving the private sector.

"This self-sufficiency is part of why in the last Limited Meeting which was attended by all Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, coordinating ministers, Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Minister of Trade, Minister of Agriculture, we received full support. No maybe this transformation of SugarCo without the support of other ministries," said Erick.

He emphasized that he is not anti-import, not anti-private, but the rules of the game or the rule of the game must be improved.

"We have to make sure that Indonesia, like the country it used to be, becomes a sugar powerhouse. Not only that, but only as markets, which is very difficult for all of us," said Erick.

Indonesia is currently in difficult conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit all countries in the world. Thus, if Indonesia wants to escape from these difficulties, exports must be increased and imports reduced.

"We must increase exports and reduce imports, otherwise it will be difficult for our country. One of them is how sugar becomes an important backbone in the future," said Erick Thohir.

Previously, PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (Persero) or PTPN III targeted consumption of sugar self-sufficiency by producing 2 million tons of sugar by 2025.

PTPN III President Director Mohammad Abdul Ghani explained that the company has a sugar cane plantation area of 420,000 hectares. The national sugar self-sufficiency strategy will be carried out by forming a sugar factory holding company called Sugar Company or SugarCo.

According to him, the establishment of a sugar factory holding requires funds of Rp. 20 trillion.

PTPN will merge its seven subsidiaries which are engaged in sugar cane and sugar plantations, namely PTPN VII in Lampung, PTPN IX to XII in East Java, and PTPN XIV in South Sulawesi.

The company cooperates with investors and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) in raising capital to build a sugar mill holding because PTPN is currently unable to borrow funds from banks because it is in the restructuring stage, so that capital injections can only be obtained from outside.