Subang Farmers First Export Of 150 Tons Of Coffee To Saudi Arabia, LPEI: Contribution To State Revenue

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI) said that the Gunung Luhur Berkah Cooperative (GBL) of Subang Regency recorded an initial export of coffee commodities to Saudi Arabia of a total of 150 tons.

LPEI Executive Director James Rompas said overall deliveries were carried out in stages. Meanwhile, the first will be held today, Sunday, September 19, 2021, with 1 container (18 tons) with an export value of 148,320 US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 2.1 billion.

"From the beginning we were optimistic about Subang's potential with its coffee commodity. Good collaboration between LPEI, Subang Regency Government, cooperatives and all other parties involved is an important factor in this success," he said in a press statement, Sunday, September 19.

James ensured this feat was not the last. It encourages various other leading commodities to be developed and exported in order to enlarge the state revenue sector.

"We will also not stop here, because with good cooperation, Subang Foreign Exchange Village will certainly be able to export sustainably and contribute to state income," he said.

On the same occasion, the Head of the Gunung Luhur Berkah Cooperative (GBL) Subang Miftahudin Shaf said that he was very happy because he had finally succeeded in making his first export to Saudi Arabia.

“Thanks to the training and assistance provided by LPEI and of course the hard work of the farmers, we were able to meet the demand from Saudi Arabia. We hope this is only the beginning of the next exports,” he said.

The inaugural export release event was also attended by the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki. In her speech, Teten stated that all institutions must collaborate to help food cooperatives.

"We, together with the regional government, will encourage potential food cooperatives to expand their business capacity and export financing by collaborating with LPEI and other banks," said Teten.

For information, the Foreign Exchange Village Program is a program that prioritizes collaboration between institutions to produce innovative breakthroughs that increase Indonesian exports.

In addition to Subang Regency, LPEI also cooperates with the Directorate General of National Export Development (DJPEN) in this third foreign exchange village exploration.

Prior to Subang, LPEI had succeeded in establishing a Cocoa Foreign Exchange Village in Jembrana, Bali with the leading commodity of fermented cocoa beans and a Bantul Foreign Exchange Craft Village, Yogyakarta with environmentally friendly handicraft products.

This program is expected to be implemented in a number of other areas so as to have a positive impact on improving the economy, social and environment for the local community.