President Jokowi Tells Regional Heads to Maintain Food Supply, Food Price

President Jokowi attends the Opening of the 2023 National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Provincial Government Association (APPSI) at Novotel hotel’s Ballroom in Balikpapan city, East Kalimantan province (02/23/2023) (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Dindha)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (02/23) continued the East Kalimantan working visit by attending the Opening of the 2023 National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Provincial Government Association (APPSI) at Novotel Hotel’s Ballroom in Balikpapan city, East Kalimantan province.

During the inauguration ceremony, President Jokowi told regional leaders to maintain supply and food price stabilities. “Do not let the supply shrink. Maintain the supply, maintain the price,” he said.

President Jokowi also told regional leaders to boost rice production in their respective regions, while stressing that they must also share the same vision related food.

On that occasion, the Head of State encouraged regional leaders to actively collaborate in fulfilling nutritional requirement based their mainstay commodities in their respective regions.

“Collaboration, communication among governors is key. For example, if East Java province has excess supply, please send off the supply to regions that lack supply,” President Jokowi said.

The President also reiterated that the regional leaders must pay attention to the effect of the increase in price to inflation, while stressing that 50 percent of last month’s inflation is caused the increase in rice price.

“Every time I visit regions, I also inspect markets, even though only one or two markets. By inspecting them, I want to monitor and ensure whether the supply is adequate or not and the price is stable or not considering these are closely related to inflation,” he remarked. (GUN/UN) (AP/EP)