Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Muhamad Lutfi highlighted that the revitalization of traditional markets was one of the 11 priority activities of his ministry in 2021 to help expedite economic recovery.

The trade minister planned to conduct revitalization of 119 units of type C and D public markets, with budget totaling Rp550 billion, Lutfi remarked while holding a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission VI broadcast online here on Wednesday.

Other priority programs will encompass the reconstruction of culinary and souvenir centers at priority tourist destination areas, with budget support of Rp49.8 billion, he stated.

Moreover, the programs will cover expanding trade and consumer education, with a budget of Rp112 billion, and optimizing the use of the Warehouse Receipt System (SRG), with budget amounting to Rp20 billion.

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"Other activities include fostering domestic traders and price stability of basic and essential materials, with a budget of Rp255 billion, as well as organizing the Expo 2020 Dubai, with a budget of Rp235 billion," the trade minister noted.

Moreover, the ministry allocated a budget of Rp137 billion for conducting trade missions, exhibitions, and overseas promotions and Rp90 billion for negotiations and ratification of international trade agreements.

The other three priority programs are the provision of export-import and licensing facilities, with a budget of Rp90 billion; development of facilities and infrastructure for the Ministry of Trade, with a budget of Rp103 billion; and development of human resources for the Ministry of Trade, with a budgeted amount of Rp47 billion.

Minister Lutfi spoke of the ministry having received Rp3.03 trillion of budget allocation in 2021, though Finance Minister Sri Mulyani urged the Ministry of Trade to do savings or focus on budget refocusing.

"Hence, we did savings and opted for budget refocusing of Rp91.57 billion, so that our budget reaches Rp2.94 trillion," he stated. Related news: Modernizing Bali's Sukawati market on President's agenda

Translator: Sella PG, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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