Agricom.id, JAKARTA – Ministry of Trade, Muhammad Lutfi told in the meeting of Ministry of Trade 2021 that his side would formulate the new blue print for 2021 trade, after 2021, and after Covid-19. It is the same as what President Jokowi told when inaugurating the meeting on Thursday (4/3) in Istana Negara, Jakarta until 5 March 2021.

“By the meeting we do hope to formulate the new blue print about 2021 trade, after 2021, and after Covid-19,” he said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

Lutfi also mentioned that his side would try to create the equal playing field, namely in the digital trade with the principles prioritizing the fair trade which is good for the buyers and sellers.

“Ministry of Trade confirmed that there would be no fraud in digital transaction, predatory pricing, price with dumping issue or trade subsidy that could postpone the realization of equity among the sellers. We would regulate and confirm that Indonesia has equal, fair, and useful markets,” he mentioned.

In association with product development nationally, he thought that it needs to focus on the demand side. “For all these years, many saw the supply only. We now have to focus on demand knowing that 270 citizens of Indonesia are the consumers that make added values and high offer to other countries,” he said.

By having added values, the products of Indonesia could compete with the imported ones. “The business in Indonesia, namely micro, small, medium business (MSMB) would participate and become the supplier for the people of Indonesia which are the loyal consumers,” he said.

It also needs to make brand and adjust the market taste to trigger the people to buy the local products. It is hoped that the ‘brand’ from Indonesia could be the ‘super star’ in many modern markets.

Ministry of Trade would open market access international. Lutfi thought that his side prepared some non-traditional countries with the targets, the countries having economic progress more than 5 percent, such as, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that has 5 countries (Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; East African Community (EAC) that has 6 countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda). 

There would be Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that has 15 countries in the western of Africa continent (Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Liberia); and The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that has 6 countries in the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait). 

Ministry of Trade is about to make Dewan Penunjang Ekspor (DPE) to increase the export. There are two potential markets to be develop to be the support of DPE, such as, Indonesia Islamic Fashion and Industri Halal Indonesia. “If we could be the host in our country, we could master the regional markets and go worldwide,” he said.

He also told that his side would study the special industries to mobilize the economy in the pandemic, such as, automotive, electronic, pharmacy, and food and beverage. “These industries should have something to do with the new economic progress,” he said.

He also confirmed to provide available daily needs and equal price in many regions in Indonesia. Central Bureau of Statistic revealed that the crops in the year would be better than those in last year. “Though it is not in big numbers, the rice would be available nationally,” he said.

The last is that Lutfi claimed that it is important to be optimist as part of developing the market trust on the products from Indonesia. “Ministry of Trade would keep encouraging the people’s consumption to buy and to mobilize the economy nationally,” he said. (A2)