Regarding Import of 105,000 Indian Pickup Trucks for Village Cooperatives, Cooperation Minister: We Did Not Know
Jakarta – Cooperation Minister (Menkop) Ferry Juliantono acknowledged that he did not have precise knowledge regarding the purchase of 105,000 pickup trucks from India. The purchase of foreign-manufactured vehicles was undertaken by state-owned enterprise PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara for operational purposes of Village and Sub-district Cooperatives (Kopdes) Merah Putih. Juliantono made this admission during a parliamentary hearing conducted by Commission VI of the House of Representatives on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
“We do not have precise knowledge of this matter because it is a matter concerning Agrinas Pangan implementing activities with producers from India,” Juliantono stated at Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta.
Beyond physical infrastructure, work to fulfil cooperative facilities, including the provision of transport, was entrusted to the state-owned enterprise.
“There are specific matters concerning its facilities, and within this is also the matter of vehicle procurement,” said Juliantono.
He stated that if Commission VI members identified any findings or indications of irregularities in the procurement process, he was prepared to receive various suggestions.
Juliantono also noted that the Cooperation Ministry retained responsibility despite having delegated construction work to PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara.
“We who assigned the work to PT Agrinas Pangan naturally bear responsibility here to ensure that the physical construction of warehouses and facilities and their equipment are conducted properly,” Juliantono said.
However, the hearing was postponed because PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara’s Chief Executive Officer, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota, was absent due to illness. Agrinas Pangan representatives who attended explained that Joao’s health condition had appeared compromised since a previous meeting at the office.
“Our Chief Executive Officer of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara is currently unwell. Actually, during our meeting last night, he was already wearing a jacket and was sweating profusely, and after returning home he developed a high fever,” a representative stated.