Because of Corona Virus, Minister of Industry Asks to all Coffee Businesses to Sell via Online

TRIBUNBATAM.id - The Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said, coffee businesses can implement online sales.

This is done to increase the added value of local and national processed coffee products during the coronavirus (Covid-19).

"Optimizing sales must be done with a variety of breakthroughs, including online sales," Agus said in a virtual talk show with Tokopedia, Thursday (4/23/2020). 

According to Agus, the spread of the coronavirus has limited human activity. As a result, the economy was affected.

This includes the sale of coffee in cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants which are now limited.

"We both understand and feel first hand the Covid-19 phenomenon has put a lot of pressure on local coffee activities or the national coffee industry," he said.

Agus said, the small and medium industries (IKM) of coffee, felt directly the impact of the business decline due to the coronavirus. He said, the decline varied, ranging from 50 percent, 70 percent, even up to 90 percent. 

"This is certainly related to the limitation of human space. There are restrictions on cafes, whether they can open or not, restaurants, coffee shops. Although they are not closed, certainly the situation is quiet," Agus continued.

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Agus also explained that the lockdown policy in many countries infected with the coronavirus also affected Indonesia's coffee export activities.

As for now, Indonesia is the fourth largest coffee bean producer in the world, after Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia.

Although demand has not declined, he added, the lockdown has made it difficult for Indonesian coffee products to be absorbed by the international market. 

Therefore, the government is trying to raise coffee IKM which is considered to have the opportunity to add value to the country's foreign exchange with three programs that have been formulated. 

"We are consistent in supporting the development of the coffee industry through coaching in a variety of programs, including new entrepreneurial growth programs, coffee IKM center development programs, and product development and certification programs," Agus said. (*) 

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