JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto in the 48th ASEAN Summit proposed simplifying the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) mechanism and invited member countries to utilize local food to build food reserves and strengthen regional food security.
In the ASEAN summit forum, President Prabowo emphasized that the threat of a food crisis caused by many factors, including extreme weather and global geopolitical dynamics, needs to be anticipated through international cooperation and collaboration.
"This is not a challenge that can be handled by one country alone. ASEAN must act together. This also requires the simplification of ASEAN Plus Three (for) Emergency Rice Reserves. We must advance food reserves based on our local reserves," said President Prabowo during the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit at the Mactan Expo, Cebu, Philippines, Friday, as quoted by ANTARA from the Presidential Secretariat's written statement, Friday, May 8.
The ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) referred to by President Prabowo is a permanent mechanism built by ASEAN together with three partner countries, namely China, Japan, and South Korea, specifically for cooperation related to rice reserves. The APTERR Secretariat Office officially operates since 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand.
President Prabowo then emphasized that food security needs to be a joint effort for ASEAN to face various global challenges. "We must remember that our region has strategic trade routes that pass through our waters, and we must be careful not to have disruptions in our own region," said President Prabowo.
Then, the President also reminded the threat of extreme weather due to the impact of El Nino which had been warned by various international organizations. Therefore, Prabowo believes that strengthening ASEAN food security is increasingly urgent.
"We have been warned by international organizations about the risk of a very extreme El Niño, which is in front of us. In this case, food security is becoming increasingly urgent," said Prabowo.
The President then conveyed that active leadership of the government was needed in building food security. The Indonesian government, the President emphasized, is committed to fully responsible for maintaining national food sovereignty for the welfare of the community and the stability of the country.
"For us, this is the main responsibility of the government, and the Government of Indonesia is determined to bear full responsibility and full sovereignty over this vital sector. Without food, there is basically no society. Without food, there is no independence. Without food, there is no peace," said President Prabowo.
During the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit, President Prabowo was accompanied by several state officials who sat directly behind the President. The ranks of officials, including Foreign Minister Sugiono, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
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