Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan opened an interactive dialogue with PT Great Giant Pineapple (GGP) and PT Great Giant Livestock (GGL) Creating Shared Value (CSV) farmer groups, Friday (3/3).

Zulkifli Hasan, who is a native of Lampung, is very happy to be among the mas banana partnership farmers, Tanggamus Regency and the limousine cattle PIR Group, Asto Mulyo, Punggur, Central Lampung. On this occasion the Minister of Trade discussed not only agriculture but also the education of the farmers’ children.

Drimo, one of the mas banana farmers, told the Minister of Trade directly that from cultivating mas bananas in collaboration with GGP he was able to send his children to tertiary education.

“Alhamdulillah, the children can go to university and are also very helpful economically,” said Drimo.
“This program is extraordinary, with a little touch of technology provided by the company, farmers can produce bananas with an export orientation. Of course the government must be committed to helping encourage increased exports of Indonesian horticultural products in order to improve the economy and welfare of farmers,” said Zulkifli Hasan.

“The government, entrepreneurs and people are one unit. If farmers and entrepreneurs are successful, exports will increase so that the government, especially the Ministry of Trade is successful. Increasing exports of horticultural products will certainly improve farmers’ welfare,” he said.

Before having a dialogue with the farmers, Zulkifli Hasan visited a canned pineapple processing factory and the location of a cow fattening shed.

“Companies like this must be fought for because they receive unfair treatment in export destination countries. For this reason, it is the government’s duty to strive so that there are no barriers to exports in destination countries, one of which is through trade agreements,” said Zulkifli Hasan.

“It is hoped that this trade negotiation will be completed in August 2023. If it can be completed, entrepreneurs will not have to pay import duties for horticultural products to the European Union,” he stated.