TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The newly-inaugurated Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delegated him three main tasks to lead the ministry.

“First, maintain price stability, especially inflation,” said Lutfi after the inauguration via a virtual broadcast by the Trade Ministry on Wednesday, December 23, 2020.

Second, Lutfi said that the ministry must assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), especially in an effort to penetrate export markets by improving the structure. “If necessary, hiring a consultant instead of establishing an export training center,” he added.

The third task is penetrating non-traditional markets through negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA. According to the minister, Indonesia had signed the CEPA this year.

However, Lutfi saw opportunities to negotiate with other non-traditional markets, such as in Africa and South America.

Muhammad Lutfi was officially introduced as the Trade Minister replacing Agus Suparmanto as of today, Dec. 23. He took the same position again as in the era of the 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). He previously served as the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

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MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO