Team Webmaster : In the limited meeting, President Jokowi discussed the national price of rice/paddy, and has succeeded in formulating a benchmark price that will be set by the government.
After conducting market operations by distributing rice for the poor (raskin) since approximately 3 (three) weeks ago, President Jokowi admitted that he had never received a report on the development of rice prices in the market.
Therefore, President Jokowi admitted that he had checked the development of rice prices in the market himself through his people. He also conveyed the results of the check in a limited cabinet meeting.
“Although this is the opposite, I should be the one being reported, but I will convey it, because I have been waiting and no one has reported,” said Jokowi while leading a limited cabinet meeting discussing the Policy in the Framework of Determining Rice Prices, which was held at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Sunday (15/3) evening.
According to President Jokowi, in Cipinang Market, Jakarta, IR3 rice, which was previously priced at Rp 7,800/kg before the price increase, then increased to Rp 10,300/kg, is now Rp 7,900/kg.
“That means it’s only a difference of Rp 100/kg. This is in Cipinang,” explained Jokowi. Then IR2, according to the President, before the price increase was Rp 8,300/kg, increased to Rp 10,500/kg, now it’s Rp 8,400. “It’s only a difference of Rp 100 from before the increase,” he explained.
“We’ve calculated it, it just needs to be announced,” said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Jalil to reporters after a limited meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Sunday (15/3) evening.
Sofyan, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, was reluctant to state the price formulated by the government. “It will be announced in the near future,” he said briefly.
Down Rp 1,000 – Rp 1,500 per kg
On that occasion, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Jalil also responded to President Jokowi’s sarcasm at the beginning of the Limited Meeting, who felt he had not received a report from the ministers regarding the development of rice prices after the market operation with the distribution of rice for poor families (raskin).
Sofyan suspected that because the trend had decreased, it was possible that the technical ministers considered it OK.
“Maybe our friends who monitored did not report it. Because if the price went up, we would definitely report it, but because the price went down, we forgot to report it,” explained Sofyan.
However, Sofyan admitted that the President wanted increases or decreases to be reported routinely.
“Earlier it was reported that there was a decrease of between Rp 1,000 to Rp 1,500 per kilo. That is in line with our expectations because the harvest season has started,” explained Sofyan.
Strengthening the Rupiah Currency Value
In addition to the issue of rice prices, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the evening, at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, also led a limited meeting (Ratas) regarding efforts to strengthen the rupiah currency value.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Sofyan Jalil said that there are many initiatives in providing incentives to industry, part of our further economic restructuring regarding visa-free issues, incentives, customs, biofuel, anti-dumping, and so on. However, the policy still has to be discussed again on Monday (16/3) tomorrow.
“There has to be a meeting tomorrow because there will be a decision that has to be signed. Tomorrow there will be a meeting and in the afternoon it can be OK,” explained Sofyan to reporters after the Ratas.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that several ministers still have to meet tomorrow because they have to initial the determination of the Economic Policy Package to support the rupiah exchange rate.
Although in the initial stage it was intended to support the rupiah exchange rate which has now fallen to the level of Rp. 13,000, the Minister of Finance emphasized that the economic policy package that will be issued by the government is for the long term, not just for a moment.
Bambang pointed to an example regarding tax incentives for dividend repatriation. He said that if the regulation comes out tomorrow, it means that starting in April, applications can be made to get the incentive. Likewise with the temporary anti-dumping, if the Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) comes out tomorrow, it means that it will be implemented immediately.