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New trade minister picks his first fight against volatile food prices
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The outgoing trade minister, Thomas Trikasih Lembong (left), shakes hands with the newly appointed Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita at the minister’s office in Jakarta on July 28. (JP/Ivany Atina Arbi)
T
he newly appointed Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has highlighted that his first objective after taking office is to execute an order from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to immediately stabilize food prices.
“The staple foods are our priority and the President instructed me to stabilize the food prices in a short time,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday, adding that beef, rice, shallots and sugar were among the staple foods targeted for price stabilization.
According to Enggartiasto, in a bid to solve the persistent problem in food prices the ministry must use the correct commodities data as a reference.
He, therefore, planned to visit the Agriculture Ministry to map the data on staple foods as a first step in addressing the food price problem.
Enggartiasto was one of 12 ministers inaugurated by Jokowi at the State Palace on Wednesday afternoon. He replaced Thomas Trikasih Lembong, who is now serving as the head of the Investment Coordinating Board. (vny/ags)
