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Prabowo wants Indonesia to be ‘free of all food imports’
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President Prabowo Subianto arrives at the Modern Art Museum (MAM) to attend the first session of the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov. 18, 2024. (AFP/Handout/G20 Press Office/Ricardo Stuckert)
P
resident Prabowo Subianto has stated that Indonesia must not only pursue self-sufficiency in rice, he also wants the same for every other foodstuff in the future.
Addressing his full cabinet lineup in a plenary cabinet meeting on Monday, Prabowo claimed that the country’s food industry had improved and he hoped it would continue getting stronger going forward.
“Not only must we be free of rice imports, but we also be free of all food commodity imports,” said Prabowo in the State Palace.
On top of rice, Indonesia has become heavily reliant on importing several commodities, particularly sugar, garlic, soybeans and wheat. This despite the country previously being self-sufficient in the first three until the late 1990s.
In his remarks, Prabowo underscored the importance of food security as the country’s global position was susceptible to geopolitical shifts.
“Geopolitical issues affect food. When tension or crises arise, the food-exporting countries normally stop their exports,” said the President.
The topic of food security became one of highlighted international concern in 2022 and 2023 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The conflict disrupted wheat shipments to international markets and given the two countries were among the world’s largest wheat exporters, the impact was skyrocketing prices for the commodity.
