Jokowi Asks His Ministers For Examples Of Malaysia And Spain Which Have Farmer-fisherman Corporations

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded the importance of exporting farmers and fishermen and integrating them with State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD), to private companies.

Thus, he asked his staff in charge of it to emulate Malaysia and Spain. Where the two countries have succeeded in doing that.

"I have instructed, like a few years ago, to see Felda in Malaysia, to see cow cooperatives in Spain. These are actually good business models, but I don't know that until now we haven't been able to make one or two examples," said Jokowi when opening. a limited meeting on the formation of a farmer and fisherman corporation which was broadcast online on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday, September 6.

According to him, exporting farmers and fishermen is important in order to improve the standard of living and transform the economy. Moreover, in the current COVID-19 pandemic, the agricultural sector has actually contributed the highest income to the national economy which is experiencing a slowdown by 16.24 percent.

This kind of thing, said Jokowi, the momentum should be maintained. This includes encouraging farmers and fishermen to group in large groups and be sheltered by corporations so that they have easy access to financing to strengthen the marketing of the products produced.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta does not deny that currently there are farmer groups and fishermen groups. "But there has not yet been a business model that has an ecosystem that can be linked, connected with state-owned companies, perhaps large private companies," he said.

"I see that the implementation of the farmer and fishermen corporate model has not been optimal in the field," he added.

So, he then asked SOEs to private companies not only join these groups to take the final product from farmers and fishermen. Jokowi asked BUMN, BUMD, and private companies to come in to provide assistance so that a business model is really running.

In addition, he also asked his staff to focus on building one or two business capital that could be used as an example and basis for implementing farmer and fishermen corporations.

"Because I learned from experience, I am sure there will be many farmer groups, other fishermen groups who want to copy, imitate if they see examples that are successful and enlightening," he said.

Finally, Jokowi asked the line ministries and related institutions to continue to strengthen the existing ecosystem by making regulations. So that the development of this farmer and fisherman corporation will be even more conducive in the future.

"I ask the ministries and institutions to strengthen the ecosystem that is conducive to the development of farmer and fishermen corporations by preparing regulations that support this direction," he concluded.