Indonesian Chamber Of Commerce And Industry's Hope For Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan: Restore Consumer Confidence

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan during an inspection at Cibubur Market, East Jakarta. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Business actors hope that the Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan can restore consumer confidence by ensuring various food needs are in safe stock and stable prices.

"We, business people, expect Mr. Zulhas to be able to restore consumer confidence, ensure that various basic food needs for both the community and the business world are in a guaranteed stock position with stable price stabilization," said Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Regional Autonomy Development Sarman Simanjorang in a written statement. received in Jakarta, Thursday.

According to Sarman, the new Minister of Trade must be able to restore the level of consumer confidence by maintaining market psychology, especially after the availability of stocks and the price of cooking oil which had fluctuated some time ago.

He hopes that with the leadership experience possessed by Zulkifli Hasan, who is also the General Chair of the National Mandate Party (PAN), he can coordinate and communicate with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Minister of Trade is also expected to establish good communication and coordination with other stakeholders such as palm oil plantation business players, cooking oil producers, exporters, agents, to retail traders.

According to him, food prices which are prone to fluctuations must be monitored and controlled both in terms of stock and prices, such as meat, sugar, eggs, chili, rice, flour and so on.

"Because these various basic food commodities are not only for direct community needs but also become raw materials for business actors and MSMEs such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, food stalls and others," he said.

Therefore, according to him, supply and demand must be maintained to avoid price fluctuations occurring in the field.

Sarman also believes that the policy of prioritizing local products must be a priority scale.

However, he reminded, importing must be done at the right time so that food supply is guaranteed.

Sarman, who also serves as General Chair of the DKI Jakarta Indigenous Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (Hippi), hopes that various import permits can be made easier, faster and smoother, and free from the practice of KKN.

In addition, Zulkifli who is the general chairman of the party must be able to ensure to the public that the Ministry of Trade is free from the interests of political parties.