Coordinating Minister Airlangga noted that one of the policies that the government focuses on is the downstreaming of commodities, including the agriculture and plantation sectors. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto noted that one of the policies that the government has focused on is the downstreaming of commodities, including the agricultural and plantation sectors. This focus is due to the fact that the world is facing various global crises and challenges, especially in the food sector. He ensures the availability, accessibility and affordability of agricultural commodities can be realized. "One of the policies currently being focused on by the government is the downstreaming of commodities, including the agriculture and plantation sectors," said Airlangga, Monday (3/10/2022). Airlangga noted that in the second quarter of 2022, Indonesia's economic growth was supported by the agricultural sector. , with a proportion of 12.98 percent. Agriculture itself is the most resilient sector against the COVID-19 pandemic and is able to increase employment by 50,000.
In addition, the role of the agricultural sector in the national economy is also supported by the main contributors from the plantation sub-sector. The plantation sub-sector itself accounts for 27 percent of agricultural GDP, which is IDR 560 trillion. Not only that, the plantation sub-sector also absorbs 44 percent of the agricultural workforce, and 15 percent of the national workforce. Airlangga himself has ratified the Declaration of Plantation Commodity Day which was promoted by the Plantation Commodity Council and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In the future, Plantation Commodity Day will be commemorated annually on September 29. PT Bureau of Classification Indonesia (Persero) or BKI who are members of the Communication Forum of the Plantation Commodity Council realize that the national economy needs to be organized based on democratic principles with the principles of togetherness, efficiency. Then, justice, sustainability, environmental insight, independence, and by maintaining a balance of progress and national economic unity in accordance with Law No. 39 of 2014 concerning Plantations. President Director of BKI as well as Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee for Productivity Improvement, Rudiyanto said that currently, plantation commodity products in the upstream have not been integrated with the downstream industry. Although the results of plantation commodities have contributed greatly to the country's foreign exchange and the national and regional economy. Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and members of the Communication Forum of the Plantation Commodity Council, continued Rudiyanto, have held a seminar on the role of standardization and productivity of plantation commodities in increasing the value of national exports. "Through this event, it is hoped that it can support efforts to increase productivity standards for plantation commodities in upstream, making plantation commodities and their derivatives more acceptable, so that it will increase exports and investment in the country," said Rudiyanto.
