Hence, everything has been planned. Everyday we monitor (the stocks). We also forecast how long our stocks this year will be sufficient
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is channeling efforts to stabilize the prices of basic necessities in the face of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono stated.

To ensure the stocks of basic necessities, the government has prioritized four aspects in accordance with President Joko Widodo's directives, he remarked during a press conference at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Building in Jakarta on Thursday.

The government has laid priority on four aspects: building stocks, maintaining supplies, ensuring distribution, and stabilizing prices, he noted.

To build stocks, the government, through relevant ministries, will hold a coordination meeting to monitor the stocks of food stuffs every week, he revealed.

At the meeting, the relevant ministries will hold discussions on the daily stocks of food stuffs as well as the requirement for food items in the subsequent few months. They will also consider other matters, including the possibility of importing food stuffs to meet domestic requirements.

"Hence, everything has been planned. Every day, we monitor (the stocks). We also forecast how long our stocks this year will suffice," he stated.

To ensure the supply of food stuffs, the government has involved several companies engaged in the real sector, including the Indonesian Shopping Centers Tenants Association (Hipindo), Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo), and Indonesian Food and Beverage Producers Association (Gappmi).

In terms of distribution, the government has coordinated with businesspersons, associations, and regional governments to enable the distribution of food stuffs to the entire Indonesian nation, he added. Related news: Pre-employment cards disbursed to cushion economy from COVID-19 impact
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Zhafira/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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