Indonesia bolsters food, energy security amid global conflicts: AHY
Speaking at a Taruna Nusantara High School Alumni Association event in Jakarta on Saturday, AHY underscored that escalating geopolitical conflicts—particularly in the Middle East—could disrupt global energy distribution routes, including strategic areas like the Strait of Hormuz.
This situation is expected to trigger a surge in energy prices, creating a domino effect on the cost of food and other basic commodities.
“If the conflict and war in the Middle East persist, and the Strait of Hormuz cannot be normalized anytime soon, global energy and food prices could skyrocket to suffocating levels,” he remarked.
He noted that energy plays a crucial role in sustaining economic activity. A spike in energy prices would drive up production and distribution costs, ultimately putting pressure on the price of staple goods.
AHY emphasized the importance of national self-reliance, especially in the energy and food sectors, to shield Indonesia from external shocks. Resilience in these two sectors, he added, serves as a vital foundation for maintaining economic stability.
“We must also mitigate climate risks like El Niño to avoid the impact of the prolonged dry season that can disrupt agricultural production and cause crop failure,” he said.
In addition to geopolitical factors, he also highlighted various other global challenges, such as the climate crisis, disasters, and technological disruptions that affect the world’s economic dynamics.
These conditions, he continued, require Indonesia to be more adaptive in creating development policies.
The minister further said that infrastructure development plays a strategic role in supporting energy and food security, particularly by enhancing connectivity and logistics distribution efficiency.
With integrated infrastructure, logistics costs can be curbed, making energy and food distribution more affordable.
AHY also stated that strengthening energy and food security must go hand in hand with equitable development, ensuring that the benefits are felt by communities across Indonesia.
To achieve this, he stressed that development must reach every corner of the country, with each region receiving equal attention, moving away from a Java-centric approach.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Raka Adji