The Minister Of SOEs Calls Food To Be The Main Instrument For National Economic Growth

SOE Minister Erick Thohir (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir assesses that the domestic food sector continues to grow positively, even though the world is faced with geopolitical turmoil to the threat of an economic recession in 2023.

In Indonesia, continued Erick, the food industry such as corn, sugar cane, and other commodities has made a big contribution to national macroeconomic growth.

"In a global situation like today, food is one of the growing economic growth or business fields. Indeed, those in the food industry, corn production food, sugar cane, and others, this is a center of economic growth," Erick said at the event 'Giving NIB to Individual UMK Actors in Lampung', reported from the YouTube Ministry of Investment, Thursday, December 1.

Erick noted, the potential for agricultural and fishery productivity in Indonesia is also very large.

Therefore, according to him, it must be developed in order to provide welfare for farmers and fishermen.

Furthermore, Erick said, food is the main instrument to encourage national economic growth. "Moreover, the middle class in 2030 will reach around 145 million people and this figure will continue. The purchasing power will increase indicating improving economic growth, other contexts meaning food needs," he said. Therefore, Erick also asked SOEs together with the private sector to take advantage of domestic food infrastructure.

He said, this collaboration will form an ecosystem capable of encouraging food independence.

The former Inter Milan boss also opened up opportunities for all business actors and experts to help build a food ecosystem in the country.

The reason is, building a food ecosystem cannot be done only one stakeholder.

"Our food infrastructure, our ID Food, let's work together with SOEs, the private sector, MSMEs, research inventors, younger students who can become joint research, we encourage our economy to grow, a combined ecosystem," he explained.