Agricom.id, JAKARTA – The agriculture product exports in November and December 2019 significantly increased. Central Bureau of Statistic released that the value and volume of agriculture product export in the period reached 8,66% and 10,90% for each compared to November - December 2018 (YoY) which reached from 7,73 million tons to be 8,40 million tons; and from US$ 4,67 billion to be US$ 5,18 billion.

Still from CBS, the increasing value and volume was the same with the increasing balance of trade (BoT) in the same period which increased 34,72% compared to 2018, which  reached from US$ 1,44 billion to be US$ 1,95 billion.

While the agricultural product BoT was in significant surplus in December 2019, which reached 24,52% to November 2019, and increased 61,45% to October 2019.

As the increasing trade balance and the prior program to increase the export volume, Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) said that one main program in the ministry of agriculture is to prioritize the exports and strict the food and other agricultural product imports.

“The success of the increasing exports could be seen from the balance of trade which tends to be positive in the agriculture in 2019,” he said in Jakarta, Wednesday (19/2/2020).

He also explained that the release from BPS proved that the country essentially exists to make the people better.

“The country successfully facilitates the local export and protects the imports to take place,” he said.

Head of Central Data and Informatics System, Ministry of Agriculture, Ketut Kariyasa said that the increasing export and trade surplus in agriculture in the period mentioned above, has something to do with the support of Minister SYL which mobilizes the exorts – one thing by the increasing production and Gerakan Tiga Kali Lipat Eskpor (Gratieks).

"Based on what President Joko Widodo instructed, the export and investment are the motors to increase the economy nationally and should be seriously done,” he said.

"Ministry of Agriculture is making the breakthrough to increase the agricultural exports through Gratieks," he said. (A2)