One of steps is by directly observing the availability of cooking oil for Rp14 thousand and checking the prices of rice, eggs, chili, onions, and sugar at the Wonokromo Market, Surabaya City, on Thursday.
"This market operation is one of the concrete steps taken by the government by involving various stakeholders to ensure food availability for the community," Hartarto noted in his official statement.
One of the government's efforts in maintaining the stability in food prices reflects in the inclusion of food security in the National Development Agenda for 2022-2024.
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The government is also keen to maintain stability in food prices through policymaking on cooking oil commodities.
"The government will continue to do so. This policy has just been adopted, and we are in the middle of designing the regulations in a decree issued by the Minister of Trade. Hopefully, by next week, more cooking oil would be available at an affordable price of Rp14,000 per liter," he remarked.
In addition to maintaining food price stability, the government is encouraging market digitization through non-cash transactions in traditional markets, specifically the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS).
During his market operation, Hartarto took the time to greet market traders directly. The traders highlighted the conditions being faced related to the increase in food prices and expressed hope that the government would immediately take steps to address the increasing prices.
Market traders also lauded the government for helping to reduce the burden on the community through market operations.
The coordinating minister also held a dialog with some 100 Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) players assisted by PT HM Sampoerna Tbk as a part of the Sampoerna Entrepreneurship Training Center (SETC) and Sampoerna Retail Community (SRC) coaching programs.
Through these two programs, the assisted MSMEs will have integrated and comprehensive business assistance to be more productive, independent, and competitive.
During the pandemic, they also received business training related to business transformation by utilizing digitalization, comprehensive assistance, and disseminating information on the importance of implementing health protocols.
Related news: KSP monitors price of cooking oil in markets
Translator: Kuntum K R, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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