VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Vice President, Ma'ruf Amin accompanied by Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo released the export of 25 plantation commodities and spices from North Sumatra Province to 34 countries. The exports include cardamom, rubber, grated coconut and palm kernel oil. While the export destinations are Germany, Japan, Spain, The United States of America, South Korea and the Netherlands.

The symbolic release of exports was carried out at the opening ceremony of the commemoration of Plantation Day and the Launching of the National Spice Day in the Lake Toba, North Sumatra region last Friday (10/12).

On the occasion, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said that the export activities in the commemoration of the Plantation Day are a momentum for Indonesia to move forward in order to realize a more resilient agricultural sector in increasing production and export volumes.

He also remarked that it is time for the development of plantation and spice commodities to be developed through increased productivity, production, development of the processing industry and competitiveness. In addition, in the future Indonesia must also export processed materials in a bid to increase the value of the product. Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade must create various breakthrough steps, including an open international trade system, such as building various infrastructure and supporting facilities for the production, distribution and logistics processes to increase export activities and establish commercial governance that benefits producers and consumers, including improving the welfare of farmers and planters. With this open international trade system, Indonesia can overcome obstacles in the international trade arena.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo said that he is optimistic that he could increase production, competitiveness and exports of plantation commodities and spices. This is based on the success of building advanced agriculture. During the Covid-19 pandemic, only the agricultural sector grew positively so that it became the savior of national economic growth.

The commemoration of the 64th Plantation Day along with the Launching of the Determination of the National Spice Day aims to encourage commitment, motivation, creativity and participation of all plantation stakeholders among the government, private sector and the community to play a major role in increasing plantation exports in the economic recovery.

Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo also emphasized that this is a momentum to raise enthusiasm to triple Indonesia's exports of plantation and spice commodities. Indonesia's rank as a spice producer must increase from the current 10th to 3rd or 2nd largest in the world.