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Ministry of Trade's international trade negotiations director general, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, at the ‘Evolution of the Pepper Industry: Expanding the Global Consumption Through its Value-Added Products and Innovation’ webinar. (ANTARA/ HO Biro Humas Kementerian Perdagangan/FR) - 

The Ministry of Trade has urged the International Pepper Community (IPC) to continue efforts to improve the global pepper industry, the ministry's international trade negotiations director general, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, has stated.

The efforts include holding innovative programs and conducting scientific research to maintain the stability of global pepper prices, Witjaksono, who is also the Indonesian national liaison officer (NLO) for IPC, noted in a statement issued on Friday.

"It is expected that the IPC Secretariat can produce innovative programs and scientific research on new ideas to utilize pepper, specifically in large industry," he said.

The price of pepper has remained relatively stagnant compared to other commodities, such as palm oil, whose prices have experienced a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he informed.

He then urged the IPC to conduct a comprehensive analysis and reformulate activity programs to maintain the stable price of pepper.

He made the remarks at the ‘Evolution of the Pepper Industry: Expanding the Global Consumption Through its Value-Added Products and Innovation’ webinar, which was organized to commemorate IPC's 50th anniversary and International Pepper Day.

A logo design was also unveiled at the event and an award placard was presented to PT Haniori as the winner of the 2020 IPC Award from Indonesia in the category of ‘Excellence in Export of Value-Added Pepper and Pepper Products.’

IPC is an international organization whose membership comprises pepper-producing countries of the world. It was established in 1972 and, ever since 1976, its office has been located here.

The IPC’s permanent members currently comprise India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, its association members comprise Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. The organization's main function is to carry out coordination to advance the pepper industry and trade in member nations//ANT