TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi called for the reintegration of Ukrainian wheat exports and Russian exports of food and fertilizer commodities into global supply chains at the G7 Summit in Germany. He also asked for the support of the G7 countries.

He explained two ways to achieve the goal. First, facilitate the export of Ukrainian wheat to start immediately. Secondly, proactively communicate to the global public that Russian food and fertilizer products are not subject to sanctions.

“Intensive communication needs to be done,” said the Indonesian President at the G7 Summit Session II on the theme of food security and gender equality, Monday, June 27, 2022. This, he underlined, aims at preventing prolonged doubts in the international public.

“This intensive communication also needs to be reinforced by communication with related parties such as banks, insurance, shipping, and others,” he added.

The request was voiced amid a series of economic sanctions imposed by Europe on Russia for invading Ukraine since February 24, 2022. The Ukrainian grain commodity is one of the most affected by the ongoing war.

The President further called on the G7 and G20 countries to jointly overcome the food crisis that currently threatens people in developing countries to fall into extreme hunger and poverty. Citing data from the World Food Programme (WFP), he said 323 million people could face acute hunger in 2022.

“The G7 and G20 have a big responsibility to overcome this food crisis. Let's fulfill our responsibilities, now, and from now on,” he remarked.

Jokowi has paid great attention to the impact of the war on food and fertilizer supply chains. “Especially for fertilizers. If we fail to handle it, a rice crisis involving 2 billion people, especially in developing countries, may arise.”

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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