Erick Thohir Hopes PPI Holds An Important Role In Growing Indonesia's Economy

Erick Thohir hopes that the PPI will play an important role in growing the Indonesian economy. (Intermediate Photo)

JAKARTA – The Minister of SOEs (State Owned Enterprises) Erick Thohir hopes that PT. The Indonesian Trading Company (Persero) or PPI can play an important role in regenerating the Indonesian economy and driving the national trade wheel during the pandemic and also for the future.

“I hope that PPI will continue to transform as a company that conducts general trading and especially product programs in a commercial and measurable manner. Getting more proficient in transacting across countries and establishing partnerships by providing integrated services that are in line with the roadmap currently being formed by the Ministry of SOEs, and also without leaving the latest technology," said Minister Erick who was delivered virtually at the 18th Anniversary event attended by by the Board of Commissioners, the Board of Directors and all PPI employees, Saturday, June 19.

The event, which carries the theme Synergy to Develop Potential, Realize Dreams, was also attended by the Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi. He also has high hopes that PPI can further strengthen the domestic market and penetrate the international market, becoming a leading and trusted trading BUMN.

"Keep the spirit, develop potential and realize dreams by strengthening the domestic market and penetrating the international market," Minister Lutfi said.

President Director of PT PPI, Nina Sulistyowati said that at the age of 18, the company will transform in line with the preparation of surviving entities in the process of merging PPI-BGR Logistics. "We will increase the trade business sector at the international level," Nina explained as stated in a press release received by VOI.

Nina further explained that one of the ways to increase trade business to the international level was through the innovation of opening a Representative Office (RO) in Australia.

With the presence of several RO at the international level, now there are 6 representative offices in foreign countries such as Egypt, Taiwan, China, Dubai, Singapore and most recently Australia, PPI will continue to export quality products globally as a strategic initiative of PPI.

"Efforts to increase trade for both local and export needs are the results of the absorption of MSME products from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, farmers and food clusters," he added.

Nina added that apart from the international level, PPI is now also strengthening trade at the rural level, such as developing village wholesale shops in West Java and Central Java. In its management, the Village Grocery Store will help reduce the distribution chain which will realize the availability and affordability of food for rural communities.

Meanwhile, as Chairman of the Food SOEs Cluster, President Director of PT RNI (Persero), Arief Prasetyo Adi said that PPI is a trading BUMN that is prepared downstream to increase the food trading distribution sector from rural to international areas.

"Upstream there are SOEs that prepare food products, while PPI plays a major role in the downstream food cluster for food affordability at national and international levels," said Arief.

PPI is currently preparing a surviving entity in the trade and logistics sector. The plan to merge PPI and BGR Logistics will also increase the efficiency of food logistics in Indonesia, reduce food loss in the producer chain, increase the penetration of trading & logistics business to increase the affordability of purchasing fisherman and farmer production to remote areas in Indonesia by prioritizing the quality and quality of food products.

Hopefully the hopes of the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir and also the Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi on the momentum of the PPI's 18th birthday can be realized.