TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said the sea toll program could lower the price of staple food in eastern Indonesia.
"At least 20 to 30 percent cheaper," Budi said on Thursday, April 12, 2018.
According to Budi, with the sea toll program, the cost of transporting goods will be cheaper. Therefore, the price disparity of goods between the western and eastern parts of Indonesia can be lowered.
However, Budi underlined that the price reduction can only be achieved if the good shipment is carried out through large ports using Pelni (Indonesian National Lines) vessels.
"There is a dilemma about the small ports, therefore we encourage and support the pioneer vessels," said Budi.
There are three categories of priority items delivered via the sea toll. The first are rice, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, and cement. The second is soybean and raw material of tempeh, chili, onion, beef, chicken meat, and eggs, as well as fresh fishes including milkfish, mackerel, tuna, cob, and skipjack.
Meanwhile, the third priority items that can be delivered via sea toll such as rice, corn, fertilizer, 3 kg LPG, plywood, construction steel and light steel.
CHITRA PARAMAESTI
