Agricom.id, JAKARTA – Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) took the stakeholders in Indonesian Chambers to tell their ideas to export the agriculture products in the new normal era in corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic.

“In the new normal era, what do you want, Indonesian Chambers? What could I do to back up? I think, until the next two years, the agriculture business could run well. If so, we need your part, the country needs Indonesian Chambers,” he said when discussing the export chances in the webinar that Indonesian Chambers held within the theme, "Ayo Jual dan Beli Produk Sendiri", Wednesday (22/7/2020).

The agriculture products from Indonesia, he continued, would have big potentials to increase the export because other countries need.

“In agriculture, we have the power in horticulture which is good enough. we have the power in food plantation. We could export it. Who said that other countries do not need our rice? In Makassar, we did rice export to South Korea, Philippine too. Why should we import our premium rice?” he said.

Looking back to the trade balance of Indonesia in January to June 2020, he said that, the exports from Indonesia run well and this is the chance for the Indonesian Chambers to take.

He also mentioned that the plantation export supporting the exports are palm oil, coconut, rubber, cocoa, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, clove, and tea. While the main countries to export the products in January to June 2020 were India, China, USA, Pakistan, Netherland, Japan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and others.

He also told that the exports make him excited and took the Indonesian Chambers to support the program.

“I am excited if discussing about export. Last year, we exported for about 400 billion. let us realize up to 1000 billion. We have the extraordinary products. We have lots of sellers – the European, American, Asian, and others to get our fruits, vegetables, and rice. we have the good land,” he said.

The nature mobilized the exports. He also told to the Indonesian chambers to multiply the trade partners to many countries, increase the volume, encourage the new exporters, and increase the frequency of exports.

“We need to multiply the volume of the existing export. The people need our fruits, herbal medicine,” he said.

Meanwhile in the panel discussion, Chairman of Komite Tetap Hortikultura, Indonesian Chambers, Karen Tambayong told his idea about the shelter making of agriculture products in Batam. He thought that Batam is the strategic one to connect the export commodities from Indonesia to Singapore.

“It is better to make ‘hub’ for the agriculture products in Batam and this is our chance because Singapore is limited still. The out export channel is through Singapore. This is our chance to export through Singapore,” he said.

Meanwhile Indonesian Embassy of Quito in Ecuador, Dennaryati Tjokrosuprihatonso, told that the product journey of Indonesia to Ecuador is through Chili, and asked for minister of agriculture to initiate the cooperation internationally to ease the incoming agriculture products to the country. (A2)