Government Prepares Mitigation Measures to Curb Inflation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is preparing a series of mitigation measures to maintain the inflation rate, particularly from the volatile food component and several production costs that could potentially drive up the prices of goods. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that the government is monitoring a number of commodities that could influence inflation movements. “Of course, we are looking at several commodities that could affect the rise in inflation. In the previous period, we saw gold rise, but we have seen it fall. Then, what is still increasing is volatile food,” said Airlangga. According to him, the government will handle the volatile food component so that it does not put pressure on inflation. In addition, the government is also paying attention to the increase in packaging prices, which also impacts food products. “So volatile food, including garlic, needs to be handled properly. And some are due to the increase in packaging prices. That is what we discussed earlier, by requesting that the PMK (Minister of Finance Regulation) be issued immediately,” he said. “Because it greatly influences the contribution, as all food has plastic packaging. Then, for those related to petrochemicals, the LPG one has been issued. And also for spare parts, the PMK has been issued,” he explained. Airlangga added that the government hopes these various policies can help ease price pressures going forward. “So, of course, we hope that going forward we can ease this,” he said. He explained that the policy of exempting import duties on LPG and spare parts, which has been issued, is part of the effort to maintain the inflation rate, considering that the transportation sector is also a contributing factor. “Regarding the zero import duty for LPG and also zero import duty for spare parts. Because one of the things that also affects inflation is aviation, air transportation,” said Airlangga.