TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo highlighted the global food crisis at the opening of the national meeting of the government internal supervisory today, June 14, 2022. He emphasized that the crisis could be turned into an opportunity.

“Because we have large lands that many have not been utilized,” the President remarked.

He recalled that two days ago on Sunday night, June 12, 2022, he was contacted by a Prime Minister who desperately asked for Indonesia’s help to send cooking oil to the country in the next one or two days.

“It’s not necessary to mention [the PM's identity],” he said, adding that if the commodity was not delivered, it would lead to social crisis, economic crisis, and even political crisis.

The state head said a number of countries are dealing with such situations, including Sri Lanka. Despite mentioning Sri Lanka, he did not bluntly say that the request was made by Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The food crisis has further implications. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Jokowi went on, predicted that 60 countries would face an economic meltdown and 40 of them potentially suffer from the food crisis.

“This is the uncertainties, so we must have a sense of crisis,” said the President, encouraging the use of lands to prevent Indonesia from the food crisis.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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