The government implemented a program for distributing 11 million liters of cooking oil through modern market and retail operations in November 2021 with the support of the cooking oil industry and the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo).
"To optimize the program that has been running, the government has taken a policy to provide affordable cooking oil to the community at a price of around Rp14 thousand per liter at the consumer level, which will be applied throughout Indonesia," the ministry's Director General of Agro-industry, Putu Juli Ardika, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The ministry has continued to maintain the availability of cooking oil products for the community at affordable prices, he added.
As much as 1.2 billion liters of affordable cooking oil will be supplied over a period of six months and the program can be extended, if needed, Ardika said.
The ministry is also encouraging cooking oil industry players to contribute to government programs for maintaining the stability of domestic cooking oil prices, he added.
"This policy is a concrete manifestation of the government's efforts to support the provision of affordable staple needs for the community," he said.
A total of 70 industries will be involved in the program to provide affordable cooking oil, supported by around 200 packers, he informed.
"For the cooking oil industry players who want to involve in this government program, the ministry will ease the mandatory Indonesian National Standard (SNI) for palm cooking oil, for those who produce affordable cooking oil under the Minyakita brand. So, if a company is registered in the cooking oil supply program with the Minyakita brand, we will facilitate the acceleration of their SNI certification," Ardika said.
To review the readiness of the cooking oil industry to meet the needs of the community, Ardika has visited a number of producers, including PT Salim Ivomas Pratama Tbk (SIMP) in Jakarta, PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk (SMART) in Bekasi, and PT Multimas Nabati Asahan in Serang, Banten.
"We laud the efforts and commitment of the cooking oil producers who have fully supported the government's policy in maintaining price stability," Ardika remarked.
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Translator: Sella P G, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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