Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia after Inspecting Kranggot Market in Cilegon City, Banten Province, September 12, 2023

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo
The prices of staple food are under control here. Shallots that were sold at around Rp30 thousand, Rp40 thousand now are sold at around Rp17 thousand. The price of chili also has dropped. Why? The chili was harvested and grown in Banten province, in the province.

I noticed that there is problem with rice prices. The National Food Agency (BPN) and  the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) will conduct market operation this week. Rice assistance will also be distributed. Every beneficiary family will receive 10 kilograms of rice and the assistance will be distributed to 21.3 million beneficiary families. In addition, the Bulog will also carry out market operation in retails massively, including Cipinang market [in Jakarta]. By carrying out the operation, it is our hope that the price of rice will drop. That’s it.

Reporter
(inaudible)

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo
That was not a good communication. People must be invited to discuss, must be provided with solutions. There is an agreement that local poeple will be provided with a land of 500 meter including a house type 45. The agreement is not disseminated well so that the problem happened. Tomorrow or the next day, Minister Bahlil will visit the residents to give explanations.

(AP/MUR)