Commerce Minister Inspects Gambir Market in Tebing Tinggi

Commerce Minister Budi Santoso, accompanied by North Sumatra Deputy Governor H. Surya, conducted an inspection of Gambir Market in Tebing Tinggi on Friday to ensure the availability of essential foodstuffs in the area during Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

During his visit, the Commerce Minister engaged in dialogue with various traders at the market, inquiring about prices of chillies, shallots, tomatoes, and beef. Whilst no significant price increases were discovered, Budi Santoso received feedback regarding food transport logistics and concerns about rising prices for non-local food items.

The minister explained that his visit was intended to inspect Gambir Market, which had been affected by flooding some time previously, to directly assess conditions, and to examine the availability of foodstuffs and any price movements. “When I enquired, I found chicken prices at 33,000 rupiah per kilogramme, beef at 130,000 per kilogramme, eggs at 27,000 per kilogramme, red shallots at 35,000 per kilogramme, and local shallot prices at 32,000 per kilogramme, so everything is stable,” he stated.

The Commerce Minister also expressed gratitude to the Tebing Tinggi city administration and North Sumatra provincial government for maintaining price stability and food stocks during Ramadan. Tebing Tinggi Mayor Iman Irdian Saragih noted that the stability of basic foodstuff prices in the city resulted from regular participation in video conferences with relevant ministries regarding inflation control efforts.