The Minister of Trade or Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan released the export of sardine products to Australia belonging to CV Pacific Harvest in Banyuwangi, East Java, Tuesday (22/11/2022). The release of exports of sardine products has a value of USD 902 thousand out of a total seller contract of USD 2.7 million in 2022. On that occasion, Trade Minister Zulhas, as he is called, was grateful because amid the global economic and trade slowdown, Indonesia's trade performance continued to show a positive trend. The Minister of Trade Zulhas emphasized that this should be proud of. "In the midst of a global economic and trade slowdown, we should be grateful and proud of the positive trend in Indonesia's trade performance," said Trade Minister Zulhas during the release of the exports. The general chairman of the National Mandate Party or PAN continued that in 2021 Indonesia's trade balance surplus would reach USD 35.34 billion or the highest chancellor since 15 years. The trend continues in the period from January to October 2022. "Supporting Indonesia's economic growth of 5.72% and supporting a trade balance surplus of USD 45.9 billion," said Trade Minister Zulhas. On this occasion, the Minister of Trade Zulhas revealed President Jokowi's directives to him to continue to strive to support the increase in Indonesian exports. "Mr. President has given me directions to continue to strive to support Indonesia's increased exports, and has even specifically asked me as the Minister of Trade to carry out Trade Missions every month," said Trade Minister Zulhas. Zulhas also ensured that his presence at the release of exports of sardine products to Australia belonging to CV PASIFIC HARVEST was a form of government support for Indonesian business actors. "Therefore, I am here as a form of government support for national business actors to continue to support Indonesia's export and economic growth," concluded the Minister of Trade Zulhas.
Previously, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan attended the XVII National Conference of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI National Conference) in Solo, Central Java, Monday (21/11/2022). Apart from Zulkifli Hasan, the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM, Bahlil Lahadalia, and the Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arsjad Rasjid, were also present. In his remarks, the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, as he is called, revealed that the inflation rate in Indonesia was relatively low among the G20 countries, namely 5.7%. "Indonesia's economic growth grew by 5.72% in the third quarter. Indonesia's trade balance also experienced a surplus for 29 months in a row," he said in a written statement in Jakarta, Monday (21/11/2022). The Minister of Trade said that the government always supports MSMEs to develop. One of them is by supporting the MSME digitalization program and people's markets. The Ministry of Trade is working with Bank Indonesia to facilitate the QRIS healthy, innovative and Safe to Use (S.I.A.P) program which is currently running in 217 people's markets and reaches 9.4 million MSMEs. The Minister of Trade also hopes that through the XVII HIPMI National Conference the collaboration of young entrepreneurs in Indonesia will be even closer. So, said the Minister of Trade, Indonesia can realize a strong and responsive economy in facing global dynamics. The Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan revealed that export growth continues to be the driving force for Indonesia's economy, which grew positively by 5.72% in the third quarter of 2022. In this period, economic growth was supported by exports of goods and services which rose 21.64% on an annual basis (year on year) with a contribution reaching 26.23%, an increase from the contribution in the second quarter with a percentage of 24.74%. "Indonesia's economic performance continues to improve during 2022. In the third quarter of 2022, Indonesia's economy grew positively higher than the achievements in the first quarter of 5.02% and the second quarter which grew 5.45%. Indonesia's economic growth is of course also supported by an increase in national export performance," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan in a written statement in Jakarta, Wednesday (9/11/2022). Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), from the expenditure side, the export component of goods and services grew by 21.64%, the second highest after imports of goods and services which grew 22.98%. The increase in export performance this year was influenced by several factors. One of them is the phenomenon of increasing prices for world export commodities (supercycle commodities). In addition, the improvement in the performance of the domestic industry as reflected in the improvement in the Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) figure for the Indonesian manufacturing industry also contributed to boosting Indonesia's manufacturing exports until the third quarter of 2022 with a contribution of 46.21% to Indonesia's total exports. "Several commodities that will experience an increase in prices in 2022 include coal, palm oil, nickel and coffee. Meanwhile, Indonesia's manufacturing PMI figures are always above 50, even in September it reached its highest rate in 2022, namely 53.7," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
